US troops on standby to deploy to Europe

The United States has placed 8,500 troops on a “heightened preparedness to deploy” to Eastern Europe as tensions at the Ukraine-Russia border escalate.

The White House confirmed the move was as a result of discussions with their European counterparts.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby confirmed the troops are ready to deploy, should NATO active its response force.

The move comes after families of all American staff at the US Embassy in Ukraine were ordered to leave the country.