Ukraine crisis: Haven’t ‘moved any troops’, says US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin

TIL Desk/World/Washington/ The United States has put its troops on “high alert” and hasn’t “actually moved any troops” in response to the buildup of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday.

“We put troops on higher alert. And the second point that I would make is that even if and when we do move troops, the purpose of those troops deploying would be to reassure allies or directly in support of [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization] both. So I think that, again, before we make any decisions on readiness or movement of troops, we always take those things into mind … the impact on other leaders,” Austin said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley also said the US is “increasing our readiness levels.” Earlier in his remarks, Milley said that “there is a small contingent of US and NATO advisers and trainers currently in Ukraine. The United States has zero offensive combat weapon systems, nor any permanent forces nor bases in Ukraine”.