NATO reinforces its eastern flank as it braces against threat of Russian chemical attacks
Prime Minister Trudeau and other NATO leaders are set to gather for a meeting in Brussels Thursday
NATO will deploy four more battle groups in Eastern Europe as it grows increasingly concerned about the threat of Russia using chemical weapons in Ukraine, the secretary general of the western military alliance said Wednesday.
The additional troops will be sent to Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, Jens Stoltenberg told a media availability in Brussels ahead of Thursday's meeting of NATO nation leaders.
Combined with existing forces in the Baltic countries and Poland, NATO will soon have eight multinational battlegroups in the region — a front facing Russia stretching from the Baltic states to the Black Sea.
"President Putin's invasion is brutal," said Stoltenberg. "And the human suffering is horrifying and painful to witness. We are determined to do all we can to support Ukraine."
Against the threat of Russia using chemical, biological or even tactical nuclear weapons, NATO nations will begin shipping protective equipment to Ukraine's military, the secretary general added.
"First of all, any use of chemical weapons would totally change the nature of the conflict," Stoltenberg said. "It would be a blatant violation of international law and would have far-reaching consequences. And I think that's the most important message to convey."
Speaking on background Wednesday following Stoltenberg's remarks, senior NATO commanders said they estimate between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian troops have been killed fighting in Ukraine in the month since the invasion began.
His remarks came as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, delivering an address to the European Parliament, warned that free nations can't afford to take democracy for granted.
He said western countries have watched the storm building for years and now face "a defining moment."
Speaking before half-empty benches and packed public galleries, Trudeau received a sustained ovation when he said the European Union and NATO are more united than ever in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war. He said the world "cannot let Ukraine down."
"Putin's attack on Ukraine is an attack on the values that form the pillars of all democracies," Trudeau said.
"We have a responsibility to make the case to people about why these values matter so much — not just to Ukrainians but to us all. We must recommit ourselves to the work of strengthening our democracies, and demonstrate the principled leadership people are looking for."
Trudeau is in Europe for a meeting of NATO and G7 leaders who are deciding how the military alliance and the world's leading economic democracies can do more to help Ukraine defend itself.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Trudeau Wednesday. Praising the spirit of unity in the transatlantic community since the start of "Putin's atrocious and cruel war," she said Canada and the EU will work together to deliver humanitarian assistance.
Gaps in the sanctions net
There will be a new G7 working group to share information about sanctions and enforcement of penalties, she said.
Her remarks came during a spirited debate among European parliamentarians about the effectiveness of sanctions to date. Many pointed to loopholes that still allow billions of Euros to flow into Russia.
Von der Leyen also announced the EU and Canada will step up cooperation on cybersecurity to help the governments of Ukraine and Moldova with defence and Internet access.
She also called for "strategic energy cooperation" with Canada, arguing that "our dependency, the European Union's on Russian fossil fuels ... puts Europe's energy security in danger."
"We have to get rid of our dependency on Russian fossil fuels, and as a response, the European Union and Canada will take our strategic energy cooperation to the next level," she said.
Trudeau also met Wednesday with Sanna Marin, prime minister of Finland.
"The situation in Ukraine, it's very serious, and it's so important the EU and Canada and the United States and Great Britain is working together with the sanctions on Russia, trying to find a peaceful way out of the situation, and trying to create also space for Ukraine to negotiate for peace," said Marin. "It's crucial that Russia stops all military action on Ukrainian soil."
Trudeau said Finland's "proximity" to Russia gives it useful insights on the war.
"Finland has a deep proximity and reflections on Russia that I look forward to hearing ... but also opportunities for us to talk about how we can continue to stand up strongly for democracies around the world and the kinds of things that matter to both of us, and to our citizens," he said.
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