The US Army's 101st Airborne Division would not hesitate to enter Ukraine should a conflict break out between Russia and NATO, CBS News reported on Friday citing the unit’s military commanders.
The elite division is currently conducting war games in Romania, close to the country’s border with the war-torn state.
The unit's commanders told CBS that they would be prepared to cross into Ukraine if the fighting escalates – without elaborating what that would entail – or if NATO were to come under attack. They highlighted that their current deployment in Europe, the first since WWII, is “to defend NATO territory.”
"We're ready to defend every inch of NATO soil”, Deputy Commander Brigadier General John Lubas told the news network.
In Romania, the 101st Airborne Division is holding joint live-fire ground and air assault exercises. According to Colonel Edwin Matthaidess, Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, his division is the closest US unit to the fighting in Ukraine. He noted that the US troops, have been “closely watching” the Russian military while “building objectives to practice against” and organizing the drills to “replicate exactly what's going on" in Ukraine.
"It keeps us on our toes," he added.
In total, about 4,700 American soldiers from the 101st Airborne's base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, have been sent to Europe
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