Nato warplanes alerted, troop increase on eastern flank

Nato today ordered its military commanders to intensify preparations to defend allied territory after Russia invaded Ukraine, putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert and agreeing to increase troop numbers on its eastern flank.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he convened a virtual emergency summit of the alliance's 30 nations for Friday.

The summit is set to include US President Joe Biden, and they would be joined by...