US President Joe Biden is considering deploying 50,000 American troops together with warships and aircraft, to Eastern Europe, to counter a Russian military build-up of over 100,000 soldiers that has sparked fears Vladimir Putin is about to invade Ukraine.
During a meeting in Camp David over the weekend, Pentagon officials reportedly outlined various options to President Biden including sending 1,000 to 5,000 troops to NATO member countries in Eastern Europe which could be increased to 50,000 should the need arise.
The report comes after Ukraine’s Defense Minister said Sunday night, January 23, the government had received a second shipment of weapons from the United States.
The weekend summit at Camp David was, convened to discuss military options to deter an attack by Russia after the threat of sanctions largely fell on deaf ears. The NATO nations that would receive the soldiers include Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, which border Russian territory.
The plan would reportedly not involve American troops deployed directly to Ukraine, as Biden is mindful of entering another conflict following his disastrous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan last year, the New York Times reports.
According to the New York Times, high level talks will still continue between Washington and Moscow – with the US due to submit a written response to Russian security demands next week.
With warnings by the US and UK governments that a Russian invasion is ‘imminent’, families of US diplomats stationed in Ukraine were ordered to leave the country.
The UK has also started withdrawing diplomats and their families from Ukraine.
Over the weekend, the UK also alleged at the weekend that Russia has been making preparations to install a puppet government to take control of Ukraine after it is invaded.
The UK Foreign Office named former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential candidate to be put by Russia to take over Ukraine’s government
National security adviser Jake Sullivan and counselor to the President Steve Ricchetti joined Biden in person at Camp David as part of the meetings.
‘President Biden was briefed on the current state of Russian military operations on Ukraine’s borders and discussed both our ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation with diplomacy and our range of deterrence measures that are being coordinated closely with our Allies and partners, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance to Ukraine.
‘President Biden again affirmed that should Russia further invade Ukraine, the United States will impose swift and severe consequences on Russia with our Allies and partners,’ a readout of the briefing said.
