The trip by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, who will follow by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Moscow, came as concerns rose about whether the U.S. would grant lethal aid to Ukraine and as NATO formed a quick-reaction force of 5,000 soldiers in response to Russia’s increased military muscle-flexing.
The high-level diplomacy came as resurgent fighting killed eight more people in eastern Ukraine and fueled fears the conflict is threatening Europe’s overall security.
NATO defense ministers in Brussels, however, boosted the alliance’s rapid response forces because of the fighting in Ukraine and Russia’s increased military …read more
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
