US Never Intended to Send Combat Troops to Ukraine, Biden Says - Sputnik International

(Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden says Washington never planned to send troops to Ukraine, but the US has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that there will be consequences in case of any aggression.

"They never were on the table", Biden told reporters on Saturday when asked about why the US had decided to abandon plans of sending combat troops to Ukraine.

The US president added that if Russia decides to attack Ukraine, the US will boost American troop presence in NATO countries and Moscow will "pay a terrible price" in terms of its world image, as well as economy.

"I've made it absolutely clear to President Putin … that if he moves on Ukraine, the economic consequences for his economy are going to be devastating", Biden said, adding that the US "will have to send more American and NATO troops into the eastern flank" and "the impact of all of that on Russia and its attitude, the rest of the world's view on Russia, will change markedly".