NATO's secret red lines: Alliance prepared to act if third party intervenes in Ukraine conflict

 The North Atlantic Alliance has privately set at least two red lines, the crossing of which will lead to the bloc's countries becoming involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

NATO fears that a "third country" could intervene in the situation and that Russia could allegedly stage a "provocation," TASS reports, citing the newspaper La Repubblica.

The publication emphasizes that there are no "operational plans" of the alliance to send troops to Ukraine. So far, NATO representatives are only assessing possible action plans as a last resort "in case third parties get involved in the war".

The newspaper named "direct or indirect interference of a third country" in what is happening in Ukraine as the first red line. The piece said that in this case, NATO did not rule out the possibility of Belarus' direct involvement in the conflict. The publication notes that the border between Russia and Ukraine is very "long and vulnerable", and Ukrainian troops cannot fully control it. NATO believes that the Russian Armed Forces are capable of making a breakthrough to the north-west, which would result in a corridor between Kiev and Belarus.

The publication considers the second red line to be an allegedly possible "military provocation" against Poland or the Baltic states, as well as military action against Moldova.

The publication points out that in case of an "emergency situation" and crossing of red lines, NATO can involve about 100,000 troops, which are located in Hungary, Poland, the Baltic States, Romania and Slovakia.

The air force will be involved first; ground troops will be sent into battle only as a "last resort". The publication notes that about 1,000 "Western" servicemen, about half of whom are Poles, are already incognito in Ukraine.