Biden: US Troop Deployment To Ukraine ‘Not On The Table’ Right Now

Topline

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that a full-scale deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine ahead of a potential Russian invasion is “not in the cards right now,” as Biden made his first public comments following his Tuesday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Key Facts

Big Number

175,000. That’s about how many Russian troops could be involved in Russia’s planned invasion of Ukraine that could occur as soon as early next year, according to American intelligence officials.

Key Background

Russia appears to already be making significant military preparations at the Ukraine border, stockpiling enough materials to support 7-10 days of front-line forces and a month of supply forces, a source told CNN. Russia previously drew widespread criticism from the West for its controversial annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. During a two-hour video call with Putin Tuesday, Biden outlined the planned U.S. response to further Russian action in Ukraine. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan outlined Biden’s message during a Tuesday press briefing, saying that the U.S. planned to take “strong economic measures” against Russia, provide extra defensive materials to Ukraine and bolster its troop presence in eastern European NATO countries with “additional capabilities.”

Further Reading

Biden Warns Putin Of A ‘Strong’ Response If Russia Invades Ukraine (Forbes)

U.S. Intel Says Russia Is Preparing 175,000 Troops For Ukraine Offensive (Forbes)

Biden says he has no plans to send U.S. troops into Ukraine amid standoff with Russia (USA Today)