It looks like Biden is going back on his word when it comes to Ukraine. He originally claimed there would not be boots on the ground if we were to get involved in a Russia – Ukraine conflict. But now he is mobilizing at least 8,500 troops and he may very well pull in troops from overseas posts as well.
This is all because Russia has come up with demands that are not possible to meet. They want to be able to control all of the countries in Eastern Europe and don’t want them to be allied with us.
“Konstantin Gavrilov, Russia’s envoy for talks with NATO allies, said last week that time was running out for a “diplomatic solution” to Moscow’s concocted crisis with Ukraine, warning that a countdown has begun.”
“The moment of truth is approaching when the West will have to accept our proposals or we will have to find other ways to get the guarantees needed for our security.
We believe that a way can be found to reach mutually agreed solutions, but time is running out. The countdown has begun.”
“At President Joe Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe to reassure allies amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday no final decisions had been made on deployments, which he said would happen only if the NATO alliance decides to activate a rapid-response force “or if other situations develop” in connection with tensions over Russia’s military buildup along Ukraine’s borders.
“What this is about is reassurance to our NATO allies,” Kirby said, adding that no troops are intended for deployment to Ukraine itself.
Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended to Biden that about 8,500 troops be ordered to prepare for potential deployment to Europe in light of signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not de-escalating his military pressure on Ukraine. Kirby said he was not prepared to identify the U.S.-based units because they were still being notified.
“We’ve always said we would reinforce our allies on the eastern flank, and those conversations and discussions have certainly been part of what our national security officials have been discussing with their counterparts now for several weeks,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
Later Monday, Biden was to hold a video call with several European leaders on the Russian military buildup and potential responses to an invasion, the White House said.
Kirby said Austin was anticipating the potential for NATO to activate what it calls the NATO Response Force, a multinational force totaling about 40,000 troops. Most of the 8,500 U.S. troops being put on higher alert would be sent as part of that response force, if it’s activated, Kirby said. He added that he could not rule out that U.S. troops already based in Europe could be shifted east as further reinforcements.”
Russia has somewhere in the neighborhood of 100k troops along the Ukrainian border so our 8,500 is not meant to be the main force. Hopefully, the rest of the NATO countries step up and provide military aid as well if it comes to that.