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US Army Near Ukraine After Nuclear Threats

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUCHAREST/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Thousands of U.S. elite troops have deployed to Europe for the first time in nearly 80 years amid concerns Russia may use a nuclear bomb in wartorn Ukraine.

American officials said 4,700 forces of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division are in Romania near the border with Ukraine, preparing for a possible war with Russia on Ukrainian territory.

The light infantry unit, nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles,” is trained to enter any battlefield in the world within hours, ready to fight.

The announcement came months after a high-level U.S. security official told Worthy News that tens of thousands of American forces were in Eastern Europe, including Romania.

The well-informed source also said thousands of American and other NATO forces were already in Ukraine backing military operations. Washington never confirmed the information on the record.

However, U.S. President Joe Biden later seemed to refer to the NATO operations in Ukraine when meeting with troops serving in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division in Poland in March this year. “Look at how they’re stepping up. Look at how they’re stepping up,” he told the troops.

“And you’re going to see when you’re there. And you — some — some of you have been there,” he added. “You’re going to see — you’re going to see women, young people standing — standing the middle of — in front of a damn tank, just saying, ‘I’m not leaving. I’m holding my ground.’ They’re incredible. But they take a lot of inspiration from us.”

POSSIBLE STANDOFF

Yet a possible standoff between Russia and NATO worries Moscow, with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu requesting talks with counterparts of the U.S., Britain, and France.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of preparing to possibly launch a “dirty bomb” that combines conventional explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive materials. It said it wants to discuss the issue with the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

Russia’s defense ministry said the aim of a “dirty bomb” attack by Ukraine would be to blame Russia for the resulting radioactive contamination. The ministry stressed that it is preparing forces and resources “to perform tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination.”

Kyiv called the allegations false. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said whatever Russia accuses others of doing is, in fact, what it is planning, including using nuclear weapons.

Foreign ministers of France, Britain, and the United States also rejected the Russian claims. “The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation,” the ministers said in a joint statement.

They added that “the defense ministers of each of our countries spoke to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu at his request. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia’s transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory.”

Later, the United States issued a warning to Moscow. “We’ve been very clear with the Russians … about the severe consequences that would result from nuclear use,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “There would be consequences for Russia whether it uses a dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb.”

Back in Romania, the U.S. forces are readying for combat. “We’re ready to defend every inch of NATO soil,” Brigadier General John Lubas said, echoing similar remarks by President Biden. “We bring a unique capability from our air assault capability … We’re a light infantry force, but again, we bring that mobility with us for our aircraft and air assaults,” he warned Moscow.