U.S. to station vehicles and enough heavy weapons for up to 5,000 troops in Eastern Europe in bid to deter Russian aggression

• Could be the first time since the end of the Cold War the U.S. has stationed heavy military equipment in newer NATO member nations
• Many Eastern European  countries were once part of the Soviet ‘sphere of influence’[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
• Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine have caused alarm and prompted new military planning in NATO capitals
• The move would send a clear message to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin

(leadership)