U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday dodged a question about whether there was “any scenario” in which U.S. troops would be deployed to defend Ukraine, saying that U.S. and European allies are looking at “practical and important” responses to Russian aggression in the region.
“Do you see any scenario in which more U.S. service members become involved here?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked Blinken on “State of the Union.”
Blinken responded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is preparing “massive consequences” for Russia if a “single additional Russian force” enters Ukraine.
“One of the things that we’ve been very clear about,” he said, “besides the massive economic financial consequences that would befall Russia if it further commits aggression against Ukraine, is the ongoing continued buildup of defense capacity in Ukraine and equally continuing to build up NATO’s defensive capacities, including on the so-called Eastern flank, the countries near Russia.
“The alliance is looking at very practical and important measures that it would take in the event of further Russian aggression,” he said.
The U.S. and NATO remain at a diplomatic impasse with Russia as the Kremlin has yet to make any moves in dismantling its 100,000-strong troop buildup along Ukraine’s border.
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