According to U.S. newspaper Barron’s, Watson said that U.S. President Joe Biden “has been clear that the United States will not send troops to fight in Ukraine.”
She reiterated that Biden believes "the path to victory" involves Congress unblocking U.S. military aid to "ensure Ukrainian forces have the necessary weapons and ammunition to defend themselves" against the Russian invasion.
The policy was later echoed by U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
“We're not sending boots on the ground in Ukraine; the president has been very clear,” said Miller.
Earlier on Feb. 27, French President Emmanuel Macron said that sending Western troops to Ukraine “could not be ruled out.” The option of NATO troop deployment being on the table was later confirmed by French PM Gabriel Attal.
On Feb. 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no such plans were being developed.
“We are not negotiating with our partners about deploying their armies on Ukrainian territory,” said Zelenskyy.