The U.S. has placed up to 8,500 military troops on heightened alert in order to have them prepared to deploy if needed to reassure NATO allies amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

While no final decisions have been made on deployments, spokesperson John Kirby said the majority of the troops are reserved for use by the NATO Response Force, which has not been activated.

Kirby, asked about timing, said that it was "very clear that the Russians have no intention of de-escalating," and as not all of the troops being placed on heightened alert were in that state currently, "it made prudent sense" to give them as much notice as possible.

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