<span style="color: #222222;">NATO says the military alliance is stepping up its defenses against chemical and nuclear weapons as concern mounts that Russia might use such weapons in Ukraine.<br />''<br />''NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg  told reporters after meeting in Brussels that alliance leaders agreed at their summit today   to send equipment to Ukraine to help protect it against a chemical weapons attack.<br />''<br />''This could include detection equipment, protection, and medical support, as well as training for decontamination and crisis management, .<br />''<br />''But Stoltenberg says the 30 NATO allies are boosting their own preparedness and readiness.<br />''<br />''The leaders also agreed to deploy four new battlegroups, which usually number from 1,000-1,500 troops to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Four other battlegroups are stationed in the Baltic States and Poland.<br />''<br />''NATO nations are concerned that Russia's attempt to falsely accuse them of working on chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine is part of a ruse by Moscow to create a pretext for using such arms itself.</span><br />