NATO to step up presence in eastern part of alliance, not inside Ukraine

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) speaks during a press conference with Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (C) and European Council President Charles Michel at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BRUSSELS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed to further beef up its forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine but it has no intention of sending troops into Ukraine, NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

NATO did not have combat troops inside Ukraine and it "had no intention of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine," Stoltenberg told the press after an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

NATO's response came as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday authorized "a special military operation" in the Donbass region, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack.

"We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action, withdraw its forces from Ukraine, and choose diplomacy," said Stoltenberg.

Putin said in a televised speech to the nation earlier Thursday that Russia's plans "do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories."

"We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force," Putin said, noting that Russia's move is in response to "fundamental threats" of NATO which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Earlier, NATO's ambassadors said in a statement they had decided "in line with our defensive planning to protect all allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance."

"We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the alliance, as well as additional maritime assets," they added. "We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies." 

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (L) , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) and European Council President Charles Michel prepare to attend a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg (C), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and European Council President Charles Michel attend a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)