NATO agreed on Thursday to beef up its defences by moving 40,000 troops to its eastern flank in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said four new battlegroups will be sent to Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania
Stoltenberg also said cyber defences are being strengthened and NATO will help Ukraine defend itself against "biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear threats".
"We remain united and resolute in our determination to oppose Russia's aggression, aid the government and the people of Ukraine, and defend the security of all allies," a joint statement said after national leaders of NATO's 30 member countries met in Brussels.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February in Europe’s biggest offensive since World War II. Although, at first, a swift toppling of Ukraine's government seemed likely, one month on and Moscow is bogged down in a grinding military campaign of attrition.
The New Arab is providing live updates of what's been happening on the ground and additional analysis on the conflict's significance.