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Senator Mike Rounds: No U.S. troops will deploy to Ukraine

U.S. Senate
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota.

This interview is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment, hosted by Lori Walsh.

The United States and NATO are warning a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent. U.S. Senator Mike Rounds says the U.S. will support allies in Ukraine, but with limitations.

"We will not be sending troops into Ukraine because we don't have a legal obligation to do so," Rounds says. "They're not part of NATO. If it was a NATO ally, we would have an obligation, and we would be bound by that under Article 5.

"I know that there are some people who say we should be in there and actively engaged. We can provide defensive resources. Most certainly we want Mr. Putin to think twice about trying to redraw the maps in Europe based on force."

Russian separatists have begun evacuations from Ukraine territories, causing further speculation a Russian invasion via ground or via the Black Sea could happen at any moment.

Lori Walsh is the host and senior producer of In the Moment.
Chris is a producer for In the Moment.