President Joe Biden said Friday he plans to sends 3000 more troops to Poland with growing fears that Russia will invade Ukraine.
The Pentagon has put 8,500 troops on alert for deployment in NATO countries in Eastern Europe where they are expected to join a NATO rapid response force. The President comments have signaled that the White House is expecting a Russian invasion in the near future.
U.S. officials have not determined whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine. “We don’t believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use those forces against Ukraine” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Ukraine disagrees with the U.S. arguing an invasion isn’t imminent. It has taken issue with the U.S. ordering its diplomats and their families to leave its embassy in Kiev.
The U.S. has offered a diplomatic alternative to Russia if troops are pulled back from the Ukrainian border. The State Department sent a response to Russia’s demands last week, but Russia has displayed little enthusiasm about the U.S. position.
