paratroopers dangled from helicopters landing on a battleground that is designed to prepare for a war just a short drive away. the 82nd airborne infantry brigade combat team based at fort bragg has been drilling here for weeks. deployed in mid-february, before russia invaded ukraine. what we understand is that there are two platoons here. about 60 american troops taking part in this live-fire act. it s a show of force. we are about just two hours away from the ukrainian border. the americans trying to show that they are, indeed, working with the polish troops. this is just a small snapshot of the greater u.s. force here. a u.s. official says approximately 11,000 u.s. troops are deployed in this nato country. they are a visible sign of a larger military ramp-up near ukraine. a senior-u.s. official tells cnn about eight to ten aircraft a day land in airfields near ukraine with weapons and security assistance material
particularly russian troops, p paratroopers that have been deployed into key installations, particularly aren t almarty to help lower the tension in the region. the big question is what exactly is the role of those russian security forces, and when will they leave. all right. important questions. matthew chance, thank you so much. ahead, critical meetings between u.s. diplomats and the kremlin this week, cnn is learning the u.s. is setting some clear ground rules, no agreements on big security issues such as ukrainian missile deployments, will be done without total reciprocity from russia, according to a u.s. official. we re also learning that u.s. troop numbers or force posture in europe is not on that table.
measures to slow russian aggression, agreeing to cut off russian banks from s.w.i.f.t., the society for world bank international telecommunication which would severe limit their access to the banking system. cnn has reporters across the globe covering the breaking developments. fred pleitgen is following the movement of russian troops near the border and alex marquardt is live from kyiv. let s start with alex in the capital of ukraine. fighting has intensified across the country, but last night not far from where you were the skies were lighting up and there were indications that russian p paratroopers were landing not far from where you were now. we are still in the middle of a curfew that will extend until tomorrow morning. that is not just because kyiv officials want their citizens to stay inside, stay protected, but