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As Russia intensifies its offensive in eastern Ukraine, US Eastern Europe Command officials say it is urgently necessary for NATO to be ready for a possible confrontation. VOA Eastern Europe correspondent Myroslava Gongadze spoke with American and Polish commanders during a US command transfer ceremony in the Polish town of Boleslawiec.
As part of the mission in Eastern Europe, the US Army has deployed ten thousand troops in Poland, NATO's front line. This week, the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division took over control of the base from the 3rd Infantry Division.
The US military is working closely with NATO allies to contain the enemy. In 2020, it reactivated Fifth Corps, intensifying command and control for allied and partner forces in Europe.
General Charles Costanza, who recently took command of the Fifth Corps, says Russia poses a near-term threat to NATO.
"I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding, that we have time and that Russia has suffered a lot of losses and that they will need a lot of time to organize. I do not share these views. I think we should be ready in the near term."
Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence reports say Russian losses in Ukraine have been heavy, with around 50,000 troops killed in the battle.
But General Costanza says Russian forces are rebuilding rapidly, and while they are not as well trained as NATO troops, Russia has increased troop numbers since the start of its aggression in Ukraine.
"They have modernized and learned lessons from the war in Ukraine, which will be a problem for us in the West, since Ukraine uses Western techniques and weaponry. Russia is learning how to defeat them."
The general emphasizes the urgent need for NATO to be ready. Polish partners agree with the assessment and welcome the American troops.
Russia has always been a threat to Poland. The commander of the Polish army's 11th Division, General Piotr Fajkowski, says that all NATO allies now recognize the danger posed by Russia.
"When Russia invaded Ukraine, its masks fell off and now we know everything. Russia shows how it thinks, how it acts and now everything is clear".
The general emphasizes the importance of placing American troops in Poland as a means of deterrence.
"We must be ready to show the Russians that we are prepared and they have no way to attack us. If you attack even the smallest country like Latvia or Estonia, we are ready to face the threat."
Polish military leaders point out that throughout history and due to its geographical position in the heart of Europe, their country has often had to fight first. For this reason, Poland spends on defense almost 4% of the domestic product.
Poland learned painful lessons from the Nazi occupiers during World War II and the years of Soviet domination that followed.
Providing support to Ukraine and helping to train Ukrainian soldiers are signs that Poland has chosen to apply the lessons learned from past wars to avoid new atrocities./ VOA
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