Biden vows not to send U.S. troops to Ukraine
President Biden insisted the U.S. would not send troops to Ukraine, while praising NATO's strength.
"With no U.S. troops fighting in Ukraine, I am determined to maintain this. But we are and will stand with Ukraine," U.S. President Joe Biden said at a graduation ceremony at West Point Army Academy on May 25.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "believed NATO would fracture" as the Ukraine conflict erupted. "Instead, the greatest military alliance in the history of the world is stronger than ever," Biden said.
The US president also praised Washington's role in the Middle East, stressing that the country was conducting "urgent diplomacy" to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release hostages held by the militant group Hamas.
"Thanks to our armed forces, we can do things that only the United States can do as an irreplaceable nation and the world's sole superpower," Biden added.
The idea of sending troops into Ukraine is already taboo, especially as NATO seeks to avoid being dragged into a broader war with nuclear-weapon Russia.
The United States has so far refused to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky's request to send troops to train troops. A senior U.S. official on May 16 reaffirmed Washington's position on not deploying troops to Ukraine, including military trainers. The Biden administration earlier urged NATO members not to send troops to the country
President Emmanuel Macron said on May 2 that France could send troops to Ukraine if Moscow breaks through Kyiv's lines and Paris has been asked by Zelensky's administration for assistance. He also highlighted the announcements of troop deployments to Ukraine as a "strategic wake-up call" for Western leaders.
Madis Roll, Estonia's national security adviser, also said on May 13 that Estonia did not rule out sending troops to western Ukraine to take on roles in the rear, freeing up less manpower and possibly sending more troops to the front lines. Russia has repeatedly issued stark warnings about the idea of NATO deploying troops to Ukraine, saying they would become legitimate targets for Moscow.
