US to Increase Military Presence in Germany

American and NATO officials have grown increasingly concerned about Russia’s deployment of additional troops near the border with Ukraine.

BRUSSELS — The United States and NATO, anxious about a major Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border, signaled strong support for the Kyiv government on Tuesday.

Austin III said on Tuesday that the United States would increase its military presence in Germany by about 500 personnel and that it was scuttling plans introduced under President Donald J.

The moves come as American and European officials have grown increasingly concerned about Moscow’s deployment of additional troops near the Ukraine border, more than at any time since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, in violation of international law.

Since then, Russian troops have been engaged in fomenting a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine and consolidating their hold on Crimea.

NATO’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said that “Russia must end this military buildup in and around Ukraine, stop its provocations and de-escalate immediately.”.

Austin will meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency gathering of all NATO foreign and defense ministers — partly virtual — to discuss how to further support Ukraine.

Putin of Russia, the expansion of United States troops and the reversal of Mr.

Stoltenberg of NATO said, echoing a statement last week from the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, who called the Russian actions “deeply concerning.”.

Biden expressed concern over the Russian military buildup near Ukraine, and called on Mr.

Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, said Tuesday that “two armies and three airborne units were successfully deployed to the western borders of Russia” over the past three weeks “in response to NATO military activities that threaten Russia.”.

Bond said, the United States and NATO should both reassure Ukraine and “deter Russia by shifting the cost-benefit calculation in favor of de-escalation’’ — in particular by being clear to Moscow about what the consequences of a new military intervention would be

“At the operational level, we need measures which will deter Russia and which will contain its aggressive intentions,’’ he said on Tuesday, suggesting “a new round of sanctions which would raise the price of Russian aggression.’’