WASHINGTON, 09 December 2021, (TON): President Biden said the United States is not considering sending troops to Ukraine amid rising fears about the possibility of a Russian military invasion there.

Biden told reporters at the White House before departing for a trip to Kansas City “that is not on the table.”

He added “we have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if they were to attack under Article 5, it’s a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to Ukraine.”

Biden said it would “depend upon what the rest of the NATO countries were willing to do as well” but rejected the idea that the U.S. would “unilaterally use force to confront Russia” if it were to invade.

The president’s comments came a day after his tense two-hour virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which White House officials said the American president warned his Russian counterpart of harsh economic sanctions should Russia invade Ukraine.

Biden described the meeting as “straightforward” and said there were no “minced words” with Putin.

Biden said “I made it very clear, if in fact he invades Ukraine there will be severe consequences.”

He added that Russia would incur economic penalties “like none he has ever seen.”