Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Russia-Ukraine crisis: NATO Response Force activated for first time

It is the first time that the NATO Response Force, made up of 40,000 troops, has been activated for collective defence.

• February 25, 2022
NATO troops
NATO troops

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has decided to deploy the NATO Response Force to thwart Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced in a press conference on Friday

“What we see now is a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine,” Mr Stoltenberg said in a press conference on Friday, warning that Russian forces are moving towards Kyiv.

“We are deploying elements of the NATO Response Force…to further strengthen our posture and to respond quickly to any contingency,” he added.

It is the first time that the NATO Response Force (NRF), made up of 40,000 troops, has been activated for collective defence. The personnel will be deployed to the eastern flank of the alliance, according to Mr Stoltenberg. 

However, its troops will not go into Ukraine, which is not a member of the organisation. 

United States President Joe Biden had clarified that U.S. troops had been deployed to eastern Europe to help strengthen NATO countries anxious about Russia’s hostile actions, and they will not be fighting in Ukraine.

In a full statement on its website, NATO urged Russia to cease its military assault and withdraw all its forces from Ukraine. It described the invasion of Ukraine as “brutal and wholly unprovoked and unjustified.”

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Keffe D, Tupac

Showbiz

Ex-street gang leader Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis found guilty of Tupac murder

According to Mr Palal, “who fired is not the question” but it is a fact that Mr Davis was criminally responsible for providing the gun used and ordering the attack.

TINUBU INSIDE PLANE

Heading 1

Tinubu has spent 261 days outside Nigeria; president can vacation in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto: Obi

“I look forward to a Nigeria where our president can vacation in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and many other destinations across our country,” stated Mr Obi.

Birame Diop, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leaders

States

New ECOWAS president pledges cooperation with breakaway Sahel states

New ECOWAS president, Birame Diop, has pledged to deepen cooperation with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who quit regional bloc.

Zulum in Mallam-Fatori

Politics

Gov Zulum suspends all village, ward heads in Mallam-Fatori for being absent during his visit

The governor suspended all village and ward heads of Mallam-Fatori for missing his visit to the community.

NationWide

Bible-based information translated into 26 Nigerian languages: Jehovah’s Witnesses

Recognising translation’s value in promoting understanding across different backgrounds, the UN observes International Translation Day annually on September 30.

Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX

Showbiz

Deadly Filmhouse Cinema Attack: LSFVCB mourns security officer

Mrs Adebisi said the police would review CCTV footage to determine what happened. Meanwhile, Filmhouse Group said it was cooperating with authorities in the investigation.