In a conversation with the leaders of the so-called Bucharest Nine, US President Joe Biden has allowed a possible increase in the US military presence in the region, Asta Skaisgirīte, an adviser to Lithuanian President Gitan Nauseda, told reporters.
Bucharest Nine is a platform for discussing security issues, representing the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland and Slovakia, Hungary.
“We first heard about President Biden’s conversation with [Krievijas prezidentu Vladimiru] Putin, which consisted of several elements. President Biden said he had made it clear in a conversation with President Putin that Russia would face serious consequences if dynamics in Europe, especially in Ukraine, were to be jeopardized. The United States will also coordinate such consequences with its partners in Europe, ”said Skaisgirīte.
As for NATO’s eastern flank, it was said that “nothing will happen to you without you,” in other words, nothing will be agreed behind Bucharest. President Biden also acknowledged that there are possible elements of additional guarantees in these NATO member states, including the replenishment of military capabilities, ”said Nauseda, an adviser.
In the 45-minute conversation, Biden did not explain in more detail where the US military presence could be increased.
As Skaisgirīte informed, during the talks, Nausäda stated that Ukraine “is now a country where the struggle for democracy is taking place, and we must do everything we can to help Ukraine”. She said that the Lithuanian president had focused on medical assistance provided by Lithuania, as well as military training.
Nauseda also asked Biden to confirm that “no issues, such as 1 + 4, will be discussed with Russia in the negotiations.” Biden has said that nothing will be done without us, so he wanted to talk to the nine in Bucharest like this, “said Skaisgirīte.
“We believe that it is always better to talk in NATO format, for example, to all countries together. However, it is as it is, ”admitted the Adviser to the President of Lithuania.
Western countries are worried about relocating some 100,000 Russian troops closer to the country’s border with Ukraine.-
Biden and Putin discussed the tensions in a two-hour video summit on Tuesday. During the talks, Biden warned Putin of a strong Western economic response if Moscow attacked a neighboring country.
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