United States President Joe Biden said he has moved 12,000 troops along the borders with Russia, such as Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania while asserting that Vladimir Putin will not be victorious in the war he has waged against Ukraine.
Addressing members of the House Democratic Caucus on Friday, Biden stressed over “not fighting a third World War in Ukraine” but avowed sending an “unmistakable message that we will defend every inch of NATO territory”.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a group of 30 North American and European nations.
According to NATO, its purpose “is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.”
Biden said the people of Ukraine have demonstrated remarkable bravery and courage in the face of a Russian military offensive but the security assistance that the US provides has been critical in their defence.
“And as we provide support to Ukraine, we’re going to continue to stand together with our allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message that we will defend every inch of NATO territory with a united galvanized NATO,” the US president said.
“That’s why I’ve moved 12,000 American forces along the borders with Russia — Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania et cetra… Granted, if we respond, it is World War three. But we have a sacred obligation on NATO territory… although we will not fight a third World War in Ukraine.”
On February 24, Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine’s breakaway regions — Donetsk and Luhansk — as independent entities.
“The idea that we’re going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews, just understand — and don’t kid yourself, no matter what you all say — that’s called World War Three,” he said.
The US president said that he spent hours the alliance together — the EU, NATO and including all those in Asia.
“As a result, we’ve been able to ramp up our economic pressure on Putin and further isolate Russia on the global stage,” he said.
