NATO 'reset' plans permanent troop presence on border, 'long term' consequences for Putin

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is considering a permanent presence of troops on the eastern flank in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine which is continuing for a 46th day on Sunday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Ukraine on Thursday appealed to NATO for more weapons in its fight against Russia to help prevent further atrocities like those reported in the city of Bucha, and urged Germany to slash red tape so that more supplies can get in.  ((AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)) Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, left, speaks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, during a second meeting of the North Atlantic Council with participation of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Ukraine on Thursday appealed to NATO for more weapons in its fight against Russia to help prevent further atrocities like those reported in the city of Bucha, and urged Germany to slash red tape so that more supplies can get in.  ((AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)) Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, left, walks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as they arrive for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, April 7, 2022. NATO foreign ministers are meeting to discuss how to bolster their support to Ukraine, including by supplying weapons to the conflict-torn country, without being drawn into a wider war with Russia.  ((AP Photo/Olivier Matthys))

Stoltenberg explained that NATO received a "wake-up call" in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and at that time, implemented the biggest reinforcement of the alliance since the end of the Cold War. In light of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the alliance, born out of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty between the US, Canada and European nations, is shifting from reinforcement to a complete "reset."  NATO has since deployed an additional 40,000 troops to the eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea.