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The US has pledged its “ironclad” support to Nato, as Vice President Kamala Harris threatened “swift, severe and united” sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine.
She reiterated that no US troops would be sent to fight in Ukraine, which is not a Nato member, but said American soldiers “will defend every inch of Nato territory” in eastern Europe.
US relations with other Nato members and the EU wavered under former president Donald Trump, who described the military alliance as “obsolete”. His successor, President Joe Biden, has sought to rebuild those ties, with Ms Harris saying she had been “reassured and heartened” by the response and “widespread agreement across the trans-Atlantic community” to the tensions with Russia.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she described Nato as “the greatest military alliance the world has ever seen”.
“Let me be clear, America's commitment to Article Five is ironclad,” said Ms Harris, referring to the Nato principle that an attack against a member state is considered as an attack against all of them.
“This commitment is sacrosanct to me, to President Biden and to our entire nation.”
On Saturday, US defence chief Lloyd Austin warned that Russia is “uncoiling” and “poised to strike” Ukraine.
Speaking on a visit to Nato member state Lithuania, which borders Russia, the retired army general listed the kinds of military capacity that Russia has massed and repositioned near Ukraine.
"Having done this before, I can tell you that that's exactly what you need to attack and the stance that you need to be in to attack," Mr Austin said.
The US said that Russia has built up as many as 190,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, leading to fears in Western capitals that an invasion is imminent. Moscow denies those claims and accused Nato of provocation.
“I can say with absolute certainty, if Russia further invades Ukraine, the US together with our allies and partners will impose significant and unprecedented economic cost,” said Ms Harris, comments that were greeted with applause in Munich.
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Russian tanks return from a shooting range in the Voronezh region. Russia said some of its forces near the Ukraine border would be returning to their bases after completing exercises. EPA -
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow to discuss the Ukraine crisis. Reuters -
Russian tanks make their way through snow back to their bases. EPA -
Russian armoured vehicles are loaded on to railway platforms after the end of military drills in southern Russia. AP -
Chancellor Scholz attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. EPA -
“The units of the southern and western military districts, having completed their tasks, have already begun loading on to rail and road transport,” Russia's Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. AP -
Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss arrives at 10 Downing Street to attend a meeting of the UK's Cobra emergency committee. AFP -
Russian military vehicles are loaded on to railway freight carriages in Crimea. EPA -
A Ukrainian soldier fires an anti-tank weapon during an exercise in eastern Ukraine. AP
"We have prepared economic measures that will be swift, severe, and united. We will impose far reaching financial sanctions and export controls.
We will aim at Russia's financial institutions and key industries.
“We will target those who are complicit and those who aid and abet this unprovoked invasion,” she added.
The US will not stop with economic measures, but will further reinforce the eastern flank of Nato, said Ms Harris.
