NATO is activating its defence plans, including for the protection of the Baltic states, Deividas Matulionis, Lithuania's ambassador to the Alliance, said on Thursday.
"I want to stress that there is total unity within NATO," Matulionis told LRT. "There is no discussion about not bolstering the deterrence policy, strengthening NATO's eastern flank and sending more troops."
"Half an hour ago, the mandate to active NATO's [...] five defence plans was approved. These include a plan related to our region's defenses," he added.
The diplomat declined to elaborate on the possible distribution of additional NATO forces among the countries, because "this is a military issue".
"In addition to the forces allocated by the member states, [...] this is the activation of NATO forces," he said.
According to Matulionis, the level of readiness of NATO forces "has been raised to five days notice".
The ambassador said Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine "is beyond all reason".
After having amassed around 150,000 to 200,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin early on Thursday announced a military operation against the neighbouring country. Russian troops started attacks on targets in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, he recognised the independence of Moscow-backed separatist areas in eastern Ukraine.
The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that an additional 800 US troops, as well as fighter jets and helicopters, would be sent to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Germany is also deploying around 350 more troops to Lithuania to reinforce NATO's multinational battalion stationed in the country.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there would be a virtual emergency summit of the alliance's 30 nations on Friday.
However, since Ukraine is not a member, there are no NATO troops in the country, Stoltenberg said.
"We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine. What we do is defensive," he said.
The new measures planned by NATO would enable it to deploy capabilities to eastern European member countries.
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