NATO establishes four additional battlegroups in Europe

NATO creates four additional multinational battlegrounds in Europe in response to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, says a statement circulated after an extraordinary NATO summit on Thursday.

"We are also establishing four additional multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. We are taking all measures and decisions to ensure the security and defence of all Allies across all domains and with a 360-degree approach," the statement said.

"Our measures remain preventive, proportionate, and non-escalatory," the document stressed.

It was noted that NATO countries will substantially increase their defense spending. "The steps we are taking to ensure the security of our alliance and of the Euro-Atlantic area will require adequate resourcing," the statement said. "Allies are substantially increasing their defense expenditures."

NATO member states have agreed to "further strengthen our individual and collective capacity to resist all forms of attack," according to the statement. The states will submit additional plans to increase defense spending at a NATO meeting in Madrid in June.