Following a five-day European tour focused on bolstering the international coalition against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Biden has authorized the deployment of up to 3,000 reservists to Europe. This move aims to reinforce U.S. troop presence under Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The authorization allows the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to deploy both active-duty units and individual members from the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve. However, the total number of deployed personnel cannot exceed 3,000 at any given time, with a maximum of 450 from the Individual Ready Reserve.
President Biden addressed the media during a press conference in Helsinki. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Biden's trip, which included visits to the U.K., Lithuania, and Finland, sought to project a unified front against Russia's actions in Ukraine. He expressed confidence in the mission's success, highlighting the strengthened unity within NATO.
While Ukraine's desire for a direct path to NATO membership remains unfulfilled, Biden underscored the importance of agreements with alliance members to ensure Kyiv's long-term security, even without immediate accession.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to troops in the Donetsk region. (Ukraine's Ministry of Defense)
Despite expressing some frustration over the lack of a concrete timeline for Ukraine's NATO membership, President Biden stated that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was ultimately satisfied with the outcome of discussions. This assurance came during a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
