German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that stricter containment measures should be applied against Russia.

Germany may send more troops to Lithuania and other countries on NATO's eastern flank after Russia recognized the “independence” of the so-called “LDNR”.

This was told by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, reports Reuters.

“It is clear that we need to apply more stringent containment measures (against Russia – Ed.),” Lambrecht said at a joint press conference with her Lithuanian counterpart at a military base in Rukla (Lithuania).

“I want to emphasize that we are ready to send more troops : ground and air. We are ready to send more troops also to Lithuania and show that we, together with the allies, are a reliable partner in a crisis,” she said.

Germany is now assessing the need for reinforcements and will make a decision shortly. The deployment will not be limited to Lithuania. We are talking about the entire eastern flank of NATO.

“We need to make sure the eastern flank is well defended. We are now considering what additional measures we can take,” says Lambrecht.

The German military makes up about half of the 1,100-strong NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. The group also includes troops from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway.

Possible additional reinforcements, noted by Lambrecht, will be added to the battle group of about 360 German soldiers, while Norway has announced plans to increase its participation by 50-60 soldiers.

In addition, the UK is reinforcing the NATO battle group in Estonia with 800 troops.

With these and anticipated future reinforcements, NATO forces in the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will nearly double.

NATO set up four multinational battlegroups of just over 1,000 men in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland in 2017 after Russia occupied Crimea.

Recall that on February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the self-proclaimed “ DNR” and “LNR”. He also signed a corresponding decree and agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between the Russian Federation and the LDNR.

Putin also instructed to bring Russian troops into ORDLO.

In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ordered the country's Ministry of Economy to suspend certification of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2!.