U.S. to Ramp Up Military Presence in Europe to Counter Russia; Russian troops abandon Ukraine’s strategic Snake Island; In New Poll, 89% of Ukrainians Reject Ceding Land to Reach Peace With Russia; NATO sends nuclear retaliation warning to Russia and China, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

By admin On Jun 30, 2022

U.S. to Ramp Up Military Presence in Europe to Counter Russia:

New troops and weapons are part of NATO’s response to the war in Ukraine, including the first permanent U.S. troops to Poland

The U.S. will make its biggest military expansion in Europe since the Cold War, including its first permanent troop presence in Poland, as NATO prepares for two more members to join the alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The announcement, which follows a NATO pledge this week to increase its high-readiness forces sevenfold, comes despite Washington’s efforts to shift U.S. attention toward China and offers further evidence of how Russia’s war is upending international security.

“We’re stepping up. We’re proving that NATO is more needed now than it ever has been,” President Biden said Wednesday at the opening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit.

The shift to China was evident in the release of NATO’s updated “Strategic Concept,” a mission statement for the decade ahead. China wasn’t mentioned in the last version, from 2010, but its economic and military might have caused a global reordering.

The U.S. in particular has pressed allies into confronting Beijing over its economic practices and human rights, while there is growing concern over intentions toward Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

The document states that China threatens NATO’s “interests, security and values,” through cyber operations and its control over technology, critical infrastructure, strategic materials and supply chains. It also says that deepening ties between China and Russia “run counter to our values and interests.”

The U.S., in its plan announced Wednesday, will add to the 100,000 troops it now has in Europe and deploy more military equipment to NATO allies. The additions include rotational deployments to Romania and the Baltic region, and a permanent Army headquarters base and other units in Poland, the White House said. Until now, the U.S. and other allies have only rotated troops in and out of NATO countries once under Soviet domination, not permanently located them there. —>READ MORE HERE

Russian troops abandon Ukraine’s strategic Snake Island:

Invading Russian troops were forced to flee the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island on speedboats Thursday, in a major victory for Ukraine.

Snake Island, which Russia seized on the first day of its invasion, made international headlines after Ukrainian border guards stationed there told an invading Russian warship to “go f–k yourself.”

“KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job,” Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office, tweeted.

Ukraine’s southern military command insisted that Russian forces had evacuated from Snake Island — also known as Zmiinyi Island — in two speedboats following a sustained Ukrainian operation involving missile and artillery units.

Russia’s defense ministry also confirmed that Russian troops had withdrawn from the Black Sea outpost — but claimed it was a “goodwill gesture” because troops had fulfilled their assigned tasks. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++In New Poll, 89% of Ukrainians Reject Ceding Land to Reach Peace With Russia+++++

+++++NATO sends nuclear retaliation warning to Russia and China+++++

U.S. bolsters long-term troop presence in Europe as Russia-Ukraine war drags on

U.S. Army Permanent Poland Post Marks Break in Decadeslong NATO Agreement With Moscow

Russians fight to encircle Ukraine’s last eastern stronghold

Ukraine tells NATO it needs powerful missile defence system

Russia’s War in Ukraine Drives Gains in NATO Weaponry

Cyberattack hits Norway, pro-Russian hacker group fingered

Ukraine’s War of Attrition Exacts Heavy Toll on Both Sides

Russian army wives demand return of ‘exhausted’ men from Ukraine