Johnson: UK plans ‘major’ troop deployment in Europe as ‘clear message to Kremlin’

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Russia of “destabilizing” the situation around Ukraine, saying London is planning to offer NATO a "major" deployment of troops and military hardware in Eastern Europe.

His decision comes after US President Joe Biden said Friday he will soon deploy American military forces to Eastern Europe.  

The decision by the US and Britain to send troops also comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to avoid stirring "panic", stating that their warmongering is placing a heavy burden on its economy.

Biden says to send troops after Ukraine asks West 'not to stir panic'

US President Joe Biden says he will soon deploy American military forces to Eastern Europe as part of a plan to maintain pressure on Russia.

Johnson’s office said in a statement late Saturday that the offer, set to be made to NATO military chiefs next week, could see London double the approximately 1,150 UK troops currently in eastern European countries and "defensive weapons" sent to Estonia.

"This package would send a clear message to the Kremlin — we will not tolerate their destabilizing activity, and we will always stand with our NATO allies in the face Russian hostility," the statement said.           

"I have ordered our Armed Forces to prepare to deploy across Europe next week, ensuring we are able to support our NATO allies on land, at sea and in the air," the British premier’s office quoted Johnson as saying.

The possible deployment of aircraft, warships and military specialists as well as troops and weaponry will reinforce NATO's defenses and "underpin the UK's support for Nordic and Baltic partners," according to Johnson's office.

British officials will on Monday travel to Brussels, home to NATO headquarters, to finalize details of the military offer.

The UK has already more than 900 military personnel based in Estonia, and more than 100 in Ukraine as part of a training mission started in 2015. A light cavalry squadron of around 150 personnel is also deployed in Poland.

Johnson said late Saturday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin chose "bloodshed and destruction" in Ukraine, it would be "a tragedy for Europe,” as "Ukraine must be free to choose its own future.”

The British leader also said he would speak to Putin in the coming days to urge de-escalation over Ukraine.

The Biden administration has been leading attempts to build a united Western front against Russia, but his attempts have been wrought with divisions among the European allies and partisan bickering at home. 

America's business, according to many observers, revolves around its fierce opposition to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a vast network of offshore natural gas pipelines that runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.

Washington is frustrated with the prospect of Europe's energy dependence on Russia at a time when the US is trying to dominate the world market by its ramped-up oil and gas production as part of its "energy war". 

Many analysts believe the US sees Ukraine as an opportunity to wean Europe off Russia's gas, which explains why Washington is adamant on stoking the tensions and pursuing a confrontational policy. 

Among NATO member states, German government officials have said they oppose sending weapons to Ukraine. 

"Germany has a longstanding policy of restraint when it comes to military conflict of all sorts and weapons export is seen as fuelling conflict rather than reducing conflict," said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff from the German Marshall Fund party. "This longstanding policy says that Germany does not export arms into conflict zones." 

Germany is also blocking Estonia from providing German-origin military support to the country which is locked in a brewing crisis with Russia. 

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