Biden says no U.S. or NATO troops will be sent to Ukraine if Russia invades


President Biden said Tuesday that no U.S. or NATO troops will be sent into Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion, which Biden said would be "the largest invasion since World War II," CNN reported.
Speaking to reporters while visiting a small D.C. clothing store, Biden said he would consider personally sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin if he invaded Ukraine.
NATO countries have sent fighter jets and ships to Eastern Europe, Eastern European NATO members are funneling U.S.-made anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons into Ukraine, and the Pentagon has placed around 8,500 U.S. troops on high alert.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Last week, the United Kingdom sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers into Ukraine along with 30 elite British troops to train the Ukrainian military on how to use them.
Senior Pentagon and Biden administration officials have also considered backing an anti-Russian insurgency inside Ukraine if Russia invades.
Foreign policy analyst Clint Ehrlich warned in a Twitter thread earlier this month that such a strategy assumes "NATO can kill Russian soldiers with impunity … [a]nd that there is no real risk of Russia retaliating."
Ehrlich went on to envision a scenario in which Russia struck back by funding, training, and arming its own "insurgencies inside NATO member states," a move that could easily escalate into full-scale war.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Political cartoons for October 18
Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on Chicago
Talking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Could US Tomahawk missiles help Ukraine end the war?
Today's Big Question Or is Trump bluffing?
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats