Russian president sends 330,000 troops to the EU border - TheSun

THE spectre of war in Europe has become all too real as Britain sends planes, tanks and troops east to counter the threat from Russia.

Nato believes that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has amassed 330,000 troops along the border to the EU and its allies.

While some politicians think the Russian leader is only sabre rattling, others believe we need to take the build-up very seriously.

Here Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform think tank, military historian Professor Mark Almond and retired General Mike Jackson have their say.

YOU have to see Russia as a threat because their military doctrine is clear – they see Nato as their main opponent – and they are exercising in ways which are quite aggressive.

In 2009 they carried out a military exercise which included a simulated nuclear strike on the Polish capital Warsaw.

That is threatening and you can’t bury your head in the sand and say nothing has changed. From Putin’s point of view the ideal situation is that you intimidate Nato countries so much you can ask for anything and get it without having to use force.

A lot of the talk about 330,000 troops amassed along Europe’s borders is intended to make our politicians say we must give Putin what he wants at any cost.

For example, Putin might ask for Nato to move its forces 100 miles back from Russia’s border. If you show that you are not prepared to go down that road, then you are less likely to end up with a serious miscalculation by Russia.

Nato wouldn’t be a pushover in a war and Putin would be wrong to think we would be.

Britain and the French have capable military forces, while Germany, Poland and Turkey also have considerable forces.

None of these countries would be so militarily overwhelmed by Russia that the US wouldn’t be able to get there quickly enough.