Stoltenberg has not announced exactly where the units will be stationed. But it is obvious that they will be sent to neighboring countries of Ukraine: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.
The units will be stationed “within a few days,” he said. The flash force consists of land, air, sea and special forces and consists of tens of thousands of soldiers in total. Stoltenberg emphasizes that only part of it will be deployed. It is the first time that the flash force has been used to defend the alliance. The Rapid Reaction Force has been around since 2006.
Several member states, including the Netherlands, were already preparing for rapid readiness for the flash force.
Former Russia correspondent Wierd Duk discusses the actions of Vladimir Putin and the actions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Top meeting
Stoltenberg agreed on Friday with leaders of all member states during an intercalated digital summit to help Ukraine with additional weapons, including anti-aircraft defenses. NATO does not send troops to Ukraine.
According to the NATO chief, Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine is “a terrible strategic mistake for which Russia will pay a heavy price in the coming years.”