On Tuesday, Democrat President Joe Biden discussed the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, saying that the United States military would respond with “full force” if a NATO ally or an American citizen is attacked by Russia.
“The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not a threat to Russia. Neither the US nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We do not — do not — have plans to put them there, as well. We’re not targeting the people of Russia. We do not seek to destabilize Russia,” the president said.
“To the citizens of Russia, you are not our enemy,” Biden continued. “And I do not believe you want a bloody destructive war against Ukraine, a country and the people with whom you share such deep ties of family history and culture.”
Biden also said that the United States will not be sending forces to fight in Ukraine, but that forces have gathered in surrounding countries and that the United States would defend NATO territory with “full force.”
“While I will not send American servicemen to fight in Ukraine, we have supplied the Ukrainian military equipment to help them defend themselves,” Biden said. “We provided training and advice and intelligence for the same purpose.”
“Make no mistake, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power,” Biden stated. “An attack against one NATO country is an attack against all of us.”
Biden’s remarks came hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his country had decided to “partially pull back troops.”
However, Biden also warned that the United States had not yet confirmed Russia’s pull back, and that over 150,000 troops remain surrounding the country.
“We have not yet verified the Russian military units are returning to their home bases,” Biden said. “Indeed our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position and the fact remains right now Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine’s border.”
