(NewsNation) — Phrase of the U.S. army having a presence in Ukraine is “nothing new,” high Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder informed NewsNation.
Ryder stated the Pentagon has “lengthy talked about” U.S. army being on the embassy in Ukraine throughout Russia’s invasion.
“These people are there working in assist of the Protection Attaché Workplace doing issues like supporting the top use monitoring, in addition to offering safety for the embassy,” Ryder informed Elizabeth Vargas. “Whereas we’re not going to get into the specifics, when it comes to the precise disposition of these forces, that is one thing that we now have lengthy talked about. In order that in and of itself is nothing new.”
Ryder stated President Joe Biden’s mandate that no U.S. troopers will struggle in Ukraine nonetheless stands.
“To be very clear, there are not any U.S. fight forces conducting operations in Ukraine. That continues to be true immediately because it was yesterday,” Ryder stated.
Ryder described the army presence as a “very small, U.S. army footprint understanding of the embassy” largely offering safety for embassy officers.
“No U.S. fight forces are conducting fight operations in Ukraine,” Ryder insisted. “The president has stated that’s our coverage and that continues to be our coverage.”
Ryder’s feedback come because the Pentagon rushes to include the fallout from a large leak of categorised paperwork that reveal vital details about U.S. allies and the battle in Ukraine.
The supply of the leak is unclear. It has raised intelligence issues that the breach could destroy the belief of U.S. allies.
“Broadly talking, anytime there’s an unauthorized disclosure of delicate categorised materials, it does current a nationwide safety danger, and it does additionally run the danger of endangering folks’s lives. And so, because of this we’re taking this unauthorized disclosure so severely,” Ryder stated.
He talked about that Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated he’s assembly with DOD leaders every day to evaluate the scope and influence of the leak, in addition to methods to stop different potential breaches.
“We are going to go away no stone unturned, will look below each rock,” Ryder stated, echoing Austin’s path. “We are going to ensure that this continues to obtain the eye that it deserves. It is going to be a high precedence.”
Ryder stated he’s “assured” investigators will know extra in regards to the leak quickly.
