RZESZOW (Poland) – On Saturday, the first U.S. soldiers to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe in response to a Russian military buildup at Ukraine’s borders arrived at Rzeszow military bases in southeastern Poland.

As preparations for the base near Poland’s border to Ukraine continued, a small plane transporting what was claimed by a Polish military source as U.S. chain command personnel arrived at Rzeszow Jasionka airport.

Television footage captured temporary accommodations being built at Jasionka’s G2A Arena. Workers were also seen making a barrier around the arena.

A Polish military spokesperson said that the “first elements of the brigade combat group of the 82nd Airborne Division have arrived in Poland as announced.”

Joe Biden, the U.S. president, sent almost 3,000 additional soldiers to Poland and Romania on Wednesday to protect Eastern Europe from any spillovers from Ukraine.

U.S. Army sources say that approximately 1,700 troops, mainly paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed from Fort Bragg in North Carolina to Poland “overthe next days”.

The Pentagon says that a Stryker (NYSE:) A squadron consisting of approximately 1,000 U.S. military personnel based in Vilseck, Germany will be deployed to Romania.

On Friday, additional U.S. forces arrived in Germany.

Russia denied any plans to invade Ukraine. However, it deployed more than 100,000 soldiers near Ukraine’s border and said that it might take unspecified measures to meet its demands. This includes a NATO promise not to admit Kyiv.

This plan is more than the 8500 troops that the Pentagon placed on alert to be deployed to Europe last month. NATO defence ministers expect to discuss reinforcements at the next meeting which takes place on February 16-17.