The United States plans by the end of next year to station around 150 tanks and armored vehicles in Europe for use by U.S. forces training in Europe as part of the U.S. response to the Ukraine crisis, according to a U.S. military commander.

Some of the tanks and vehicles — enough to equip an armored brigade — could be "pre-positioned" in Poland, Romania or the Baltic states, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, said in a telephone interview with Reuters from Wiesbaden, Germany.

The United States and NATO partners have reinforced Eastern Europe and have stepped up exercises to reassure newer members of the alliance made nervous by what they see as Russian assertiveness. Russia denies any aggressive activity.