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Former NATO Commander: ‘Is the West Going to Tolerate Russia Doing This to Ukraine?’

Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove on NATO’s response, calls for a no-fly zone, and Putin’s state of mind.

By , a national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy.
Gen. Philip Breedlove, the outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe
Gen. Philip Breedlove, the outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe
Gen. Philip Breedlove, the outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, speaks in Stuttgart, Germany, on May 3, 2016. Marijan Murat/DAP/AFP/Getty Images

Russia’s War in Ukraine

Understanding the conflict one year on.

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As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine got underway late last week, NATO activated its multinational response force for the first time in the military alliance’s nearly 73-year history on Friday. While no U.S. or NATO troops will be sent to Ukraine, which is not a member nation, the force has been put on standby as a deterrence and defensive measure as tens of thousands of Russian troops have surged into the country, which borders four NATO member states.

Amy Mackinnon is a national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @ak_mack

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Tags: Europe, NATO

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