POTUS Will Move Troops to Ukraine Border As Top General Warns of ‘Horrific Outcome’ If Russia Invades
President Joe Biden said on Friday that he will move US troops to NATO allies in Eastern Europe in the “near term,” marking a new phase in the US response to Russia’s escalation on the Ukrainian border, which US officials fear could soon lead to an invasion. If Putin invades Ukraine, U.S. and U.K. officials have vowed to unleash punishing sanctions that could cause severe inflation, a stock market crash, and other forms of financial panic in Russia. But the strategy comes with political and economic risks.
As many as 8,500 US troops had been placed on heightened alert earlier this week to prepare to deploy to Eastern Europe — including units with “medical support, aviation support, logistical support” and “combat formation,” according to a Pentagon spokesman.
“I will be moving US troops to Eastern Europe in NATO countries in the near term,” President Biden told reporters when asked about a timeline for moving the troops, adding that he did not have any updates on the situation in Ukraine.
President Biden said he plans to send U.S. troops to Eastern Europe in the near future amid fears of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/lcbylRBuJv
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 29, 2022
The President made his comments soon after Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley warned a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be “horrific” for the country and would result in “significant” casualties as he urged Putin to choose a diplomatic path instead.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Biden is “moving in the right direction” in taking “steps” before Russia invades Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/6HwwpwqQaX
— The Recount (@therecount) January 25, 2022
Milley, who along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin briefed reporters Friday on the US military’s preparations, spoke of Ukraine’s geography, noting that when its “high water table” freezes, “it makes it for optimal conditions for cross-country tract and wheeled vehicle maneuver.”
US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley says Russian aggression in Ukraine will not be tolerated by the US or NATO https://t.co/LpiaU281lm pic.twitter.com/Yx5KuIEEKW
— CNN (@CNN) January 29, 2022
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with President Biden by phone Thursday, where the two leaders disagreed on the urgency of the threat Russia poses, and Zelensky reiterated his view speaking in Ukraine Friday that the rhetoric risks causing panic and destabilizing his country’s economy. “They are saying tomorrow is the war. This means panic,” Zelensky told reporters.
Had a long phone conversation with @POTUS. Discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future. Thanked President @JoeBiden for the ongoing military assistance. Possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed. pic.twitter.com/pAsQLYAuig
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 27, 2022
But Milley said that he thinks Russia’s actions “feel different” than previous escalations. “This is larger in scale and scope in the massing of forces than anything we’ve seen in recent memory, and I think you’d have to go back quite a while into the Cold War days to see something of this magnitude,” he said.
“Privately, President Zelensky is talking to all of the NATO allies and begging them for more equipment as fast as humanly possible.” @ianbremmer says Ukraine’s leader is much more concerned about a Russian invasion than he’s admitting publicly #VELSHI pic.twitter.com/XYLOobbHqp
— Velshi on MSNBC (@VelshiMSNBC) January 29, 2022