Washington explains US troops operating in Ukraine

Asked about a leaked document on social media on April 12 that said the US and some NATO allies had special forces operating in Ukraine, Kirby acknowledged that there was a “small-scale US military presence,” but said the force was only operating at the US embassy in Kiev.

Speaking to Fox News on the sidelines of President Joe Biden's trip to Northern Ireland, Mr. Kirby refused to disclose the specific number of US troops present in Ukraine.

US soldiers at Poland's Rzeszów-Jasionka airport in February 2022. Photo: US Air Force

“There is a small-scale US military presence at the embassy and the military attaché office, to help us process documents going in and out of Ukraine. So they work with the embassy and the military attaché,” Kirby said.

Also according to Mr. Kirby, the US military "did not participate in the war" in Ukraine.

President Biden is still trying to balance his support for Kiev and avoiding provoking a direct conflict with Moscow, as Russia has repeatedly warned that increased US aid to Ukraine would increase the risk of a clash between the world's two nuclear powers.

On April 11, The Guardian reported that nearly 100 NATO special forces, including 50 from the UK, have been operating in Ukraine since March 1. According to a set of classified Pentagon documents leaked on social media, the US has 14 special forces and France has 15 in Ukraine.