Biden: We will not intervene militarily against Russia if invading Ukraine

SANAA, Dec. 09 (YPA) – US President Joe Biden said Wednesday that his country’s deployment of troops on the ground in Ukraine to deter a possible Russian invasion is “not on the table” and that he hopes to announce a meeting with Russia and other NATO countries by Friday.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House, Biden told Reuters that there would be high-level meetings with Russia and at least four key NATO allies “to discuss the future of Russia’s NATO concerns.”

“The idea the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not on the cards right now,” Biden said. “We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies under Article Five. It’s a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to… Ukraine.”

“But it would depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries were willing to do as well,” Biden said, seemingly leaving the door to intervention open just a crack.

“I made it very clear if in fact he invades Ukraine there will be severe consequences, severe consequences — economic consequences like none he’s ever seen or ever have been seen,” Biden told reporters at the White House.

E.M