Civic Register
| 3.29.22

White House Walks Back Biden's Statement About U.S. Training for Ukrainian Troops in Poland

Do you think U.S. troops in Poland should provide formal training for Ukrainian troops?

What’s the story?

  • The White House is walking back a comment made by President Joe Biden on Monday that was interpreted to mean that U.S. troops in Poland are actively training Ukrainian troops to clarify that there isn’t any physical training occurring. The moves come amid an ongoing debate over the degree to which certain types of U.S. military aid to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia could prompt Vladimir Putin to further escalate his war.
  • Biden made that remark during a press conference at the White House on Monday when was asked about a different verbal gaffe he made on Saturday in Poland, which occurred when he praised the Ukrainian people as he spoke to American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division and seemed to imply they would be going to Ukraine:
“Look at how they’re stepping up. And you’re going to see when you’re there. And you — some — some of you have been there. You’re going to see — you’re going to see women, young people standing — standing the middle of — in front of a damn tank, just saying, “I’m not leaving. I’m holding my ground.” They’re incredible.”
  • During Monday’s press briefing, Biden was asked to clarify whether that remark meant that U.S. troops were going to Ukraine and seemed to reveal U.S. training for Ukrainian troops in Poland:
Biden: You interpret the language that way. I was talking to the troops. We were talking about helping train the troops in — that are — the Ukrainian troops that are in Poland. That’s what the context.
Reporter: So when you said, “You’re going to see when you’re there,” you were not intending to send U.S. (inaudible)?
Biden: I was referring to with — being with and talking with the Ukrainian troops who are in Poland.
  • A number of media outlets and military experts took the president’s statement as implying that American troops in Poland are providing training to Ukrainian troops that hadn’t been publicly revealed by the White House or the Pentagon.
  • However, in a report on the matter by Politico, a White House official said, “There are Ukrainian soldiers in Poland interacting on a regular basis with U.S. troops, and that’s what the president was referring to.” A senior administration official also explained to Politico that the American troops told Biden that they verbally instruct Ukrainians on how to use weapons shipped to Poland as they’re loaded for shipment to the front in Ukraine, but don’t go through physical drills.
  • White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield expressed a similar sentiment during a White House presser on Tuesday. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby on Tuesday said during a press briefing that the Biden administration doesn’t consider that to be training in the “classic sense”.
  • Biden was also asked on Monday to clarify whether he was calling for regime change in Russia when he said of Vladimir Putin at the end of a speech in Poland, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” That prompted statements by the administration, including by Secretary of State Antony Blinken who explained on Sunday:
“With regard to the President’s incredibly powerful speech yesterday, I think the President, the White House made the point last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else. As you know, and as you’ve heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia or anywhere else, for that matter. In this case, as in any case, it’s up to the people of the country in question. It’s up to the Russian people.”
“Number one, I’m not walking anything back. The fact of the matter is I was expressing the moral outrage I felt toward the way Putin is dealing, and the actions of this man — just — just the brutality of it. Half the children in Ukraine. I had just come from being with those families. And so — but I want to make it clear: I wasn’t then, nor am I now, articulating a policy change.  I was expressing the moral outrage that I feel, and I make no apologies for it.
“Nobody believes we’re going to take town — I was going to — I was talking about taking down Putin. Nobody who believes that. Number one. Number two, what have I been talking about all — since this all began? The only war that’s worse than one intended is one that’s unintended. The last thing I want to do is engage in a land war or a nuclear war with Russia. That’s not part of it. I was expressing my outrage at the behavior of this man. It’s outrageous. It’s outrageous. And it’s more an aspiration than anything. He shouldn’t be in power. There’s no — I mean, people like this shouldn’t be ruling countries, but they do. The fact they do — but it doesn’t mean I can’t express my outrage about it.”


— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: White House photo by Cameron Smith via Flickr / Creative Commons)

  • 142
    Jlojlo04
    04/06/2022

    Please help Ukraine in anyway we can. We don’t want a 20 year war here.

  • 1,219
    Dennis
    04/03/2022

    Putin is a baby killing terrorist that must be dealt with.

  • 69
    Sharknader
    04/03/2022

    Stop being so afraid of Putin. Weak!

  • 1,219
    Dennis
    04/02/2022

    Close the southern border during this war, Arm Ukraine with everything.

  • 99
    Karen
    04/02/2022

    When the media choose words like “walk back” versus just reporting the WH reiteration of our actual national strategy regarding Putin, it shows what harpies they can be. I loved that Biden did not back off his personal viewpoint when asked again. Putin, like Trump, does not need an excuse to commit ongoing, egregious crimes. Have we learned nothing? Two comments is the best of both worlds.

  • 8,082
    DaveS
    04/02/2022

    I hope Ukraine take it to Putin front door! US need to start sanction China and India for their support of Russia invasion of Ukraine!

  • 3,719
    Kevin
    04/02/2022

    NATO doesn't mean much if it doesn't do something real to help against aggressive Soviet-era expansion.

  • 1,020
    JoeandPeggy
    04/01/2022

    Why not? These people need our help.

  • 303
    Livia
    04/01/2022

    This is a difficult question to answer, isn’t it late to do this? They are in a war now? Too late everything this president is done Joe Biden has been too late and wrong. Everything that he is projecting in wanting to give to America it’s not the way we want to go. The American people do not like what he is doing. He has failed at everything. You never ever use your oil reserves. When that’s gone what are you do then? How ignorant and stupid can you possibly be. We can have our own oil but the stupid president will not allow that to happen. So now you’re using our supply of oil, to reduce the price $.35 who the hell does he think he’s kidding how long will that last. I have never in my life ever seen a dumber president and all of his representatives be so stupid. And you are angering the American people with your stupidity. And why can’t he answer questions? Because he has no real answers ,We are a failing country with a failing government

  • 42.0k
    jimK
    03/29/2022

    What Causes and some media outlets refer to ‘walk-backs’, I refer to as ‘clarifications’. Very few comments taken out of context deserve to be absolutely interpreted as this or that. Of course, US troops are explaining how to operate, interpret and repair complex weapon systems that we are providing Ukraine. Like an apprentice who has read all the manuals and has the basic skills, advice from experienced practitioners is needed for them to become fully proficient in the safe use and application of complex tools. That is what the US can and should provide along with the weapon systems that they are providing - Kind of a crash-course apprenticeship program. … … … The fact that some chose to interpret Biden’s comments with their own aspirations or fears is on them. Clarification was needed. … … … Beyond that, there is little reason why the NATO alliance cannot use the same methods that the Putin has used in countries he has invaded. In these cases, there was the phenomenon of what was referred to as the ‘little green men’; Supposedly unaffiliated Russians that stirred unrest and probably scouted targets. … … … I wonder why NATO cannot provide a core of unaffiliated ‘little blue men’ to help Ukrainians. … … … Just as it is ‘right’ to avoid getting into a world war, it is ‘wrong’ to be overly afraid of the Putin and ‘wrong’ to let him control the agenda. The Putin must not be permitted to simply take over Ukraine. If he is successful, it will be difficult to prevent him from rebuilding the Soviet Union. … … … So yes, support Ukraine in any way practicable short of having NATO forces on direct military contact with Russian forces. If this includes tactical and strategic advice and training, so be it. If it involves ‘selling’ weapon systems, including aircraft to Ukraine, it is little different than Russia buying supplies and weapons from the world market or getting help from China, Bellaruse, or Brazil.

  • 404
    J
    04/01/2022

    No! We should not engage in war in any form or fashion. Ukrainians aren’t idiots. They can train their own military. The only reason the war machine wants to do this is to funnel money for it! It’s only for profit, not for peace.

  • 3,405
    Adel
    03/31/2022

    Or you could give them the no-fly zone. There is not much left there to protect. The people have fled. Their homes and businesses are in rubble. What do you think we should do for them? Pray?

  • 162
    John
    03/31/2022

    Whatever NATO can do to help Ukraine should be done, give them the Polish MiGs, and cruise missiles so they can carry the fight to the russian criminals!

  • 1,069
    ClydeK
    03/31/2022

    The Ukrainian military is being provided some advanced weaponry to use in this war. That equipment will not perform to intended function level without training on how to use it! We should be helping them get trained and ready to fight.

  • 921
    Robert J.
    03/31/2022

    Do they need it? They seem to be good at training the Russian Army...

  • 221
    Susan
    03/31/2022

    We need to help them.

  • 2,934
    Gdbondii
    03/31/2022

    Help them with our experience and expertise

  • 303
    Livia
    03/31/2022

    It’s a difficult question to answer. I really don’t know the answer. I think it’s too late to do anything it should’ve been done a long time ago when Putin was moving his army to the Ukraine even before that. It seems to me that Joe Biden is always late and uninformed and blames everything on everybody else but himself. He’s a failure at everything he has done in our country with all of his mandates. What he did in Afghanistan was a disaster. I could’ve done a better job than he did you never send the troops home first, leave all the military equipment there which was billions of dollars. Do not empty your embassy before you leave and get the American people out of there, gave up the best airport for a week one. He never even mentions it anymore. I don’t think he can even think for himself. And now with the Ukraine another disaster. Wait too late Joe Biden. I don’t know who’s telling you to do what in your administration but I gotta tell you this much they’re leading you down the wrong path. You have done nothing since the first day you became president but tear everything apart.

  • 23
    Lisa
    03/31/2022

    Not U.S. troops

  • 817
    DawgUSMC
    03/31/2022

    Let Ukrane take care of them selves. This Idiot administration is dysfunctional and don't know shit from puddy.He needs to be removed per 25 amendment at once the damage he has caused is out of hand.