Nato is prepared for a “direct confrontation” with Russia, a high admiral has warned.
Rob Bauer, chair of the Nato Navy Committee, stated “we’re prepared” when requested if the US-led organisation was ready for a confrontation with Vladimir Putin’s regime amid the conflict in Ukraine.
However he careworn he didn’t suppose there can be a nuclear battle between the 2 navy powers as Putin was “not insane” and was nonetheless a “rational” particular person.
Bauer additionally informed Portugal’s RTP TV channel that Nato would solely reply if Russia crossed a purple line by invading a Nato member state.
Learn extra: Ukraine tanks: Russian TV host requires navy strikes on ‘Nazi scumbag’ Germany
Bauer stated Nato had began shifting battle teams alongside the Japanese entrance and had created 4 extra battle teams following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He stated this was an vital message for Moscow to indicate Nato’s posture had modified.
It comes after Ukraine secured pledges from the West in January to provide major battle tanks to assist fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ukraine will obtain 120 to 140 Western tanks in a primary wave of deliveries from a coalition of 12 international locations, together with the UK and US.
Nato member Germany was additionally a part of the coalition after lastly agreeing to ship Leopard tanks final week.
Learn extra: ‘That is Putin’s aim for Ukraine’: Stunning image exhibits brutal aftermath of bombings
Since successful the pledge for tanks, Kyiv has pressed on with additional requests for arms, together with requires jet fighters similar to US F-16s.
However the West has to this point refused to ship weapons that might be used to assault deep inside Russia and US president Joe Biden responded with a flat “no” when requested by reporters if Washington would ship F-16s.
Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson stated on Tuesday that London didn’t consider its personal jets can be helpful, and on condition that studying to fly them would take months, it could not be sensible to ship them to Ukraine.
On Sunday, German chancellor Olaf Scholz additionally confirmed he wouldn’t be sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
He warned towards escalating with Moscow, telling the Tagesspiegel newspaper: “There isn’t any conflict between Nato and Russia.”
Scholz added he would proceed to speak on to Putin.
Entrance strains in jap Ukraine have largely been frozen since November after Kyiv recaptured swathes of territory within the second half of final 12 months.
However momentum has these days swung again in the direction of Russia because it has made incremental good points for the primary time since mid-2022.
Navy consultants say Moscow seems decided to push ahead within the coming months earlier than Kyiv receives lots of of newly-pledged Western battle tanks and armoured autos for a counter assault to recapture occupied territory this 12 months.
Kyiv says the Russian assaults of latest weeks have come at an enormous price, initially principally counting on Wagner mercenaries, together with 1000’s of convicts recruited from Russian prisons and despatched into battle in waves with little coaching or gear.
However Russia’s call-up of lots of of 1000’s of reservists late final 12 months means Moscow has now been capable of reconstitute common navy models exhausted or depleted earlier within the conflict.
Russia claimed on Tuesday to have captured a village simply to the north of Bakhmut, a metropolis it’s making an attempt to encompass in a significant push for what can be its largest battlefield win in Ukraine since final summer time.
Watch: Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine with out Brexit, high MEP claims
