After weeks of mounting tensions, United States officials have warned that a Russian attack on Ukraine could happen "any day now."
Russia has spent weeks building up military forces near eastern Ukraine, with more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine in Belarus and on the Russian side of the border, according to United states offilical
The Kremlin has denied warnings of an imminent invasion and claimed in recent days that it is withdrawing some troops, while United States and NATO officials have said -- and commercial satellite images have shown -- there have been no signs of de-escalation
As global leaders continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to avoid war between Russia and Ukraine, a senior Department of State official told ABC News warned Thursday that this is "perhaps the most perilous moment for peace and security since the end of the Cold War
As the conflict plays out on a global stage, Americans are somewhat mixed on how the United States should respond. In a new poll from Quinnipiac University, 57% of Americans said the United States should not send troops into Ukraine if Russia invades, and 54% support Biden's decision to deploy troops to support NATO allies
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden addressed the American public and again made clear the United states
That high level of United states involvement is necessary, he said, because "this is about more than just Russia and Ukraine
"It's about standing for what we believe in, for the future that we want for our world, for liberty, the right of countless countries to choose their own destiny. And the right of people to determine their own futures, or the principle that a country can't change its neighbor's borders by force," Biden said. "If we do not stand for freedom where it is at risk today, we'll surely pay a steeper price tomorrow
To understand the United States' vested interest in the conflict, you'd have to go back to the Cold War, Craig Albert, an associate professor of political science and the director of Intelligence and Security Studies at Augusta University, told ABC News.
To counter Soviet aggression in Europe, the United states helped form the security alliance NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in 1949. In the years since, NATO has expanded several times, including adding three former Soviet republics.
Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that is bordered by Russia on the east, is not a NATO member, though in 2008 the alliance opened the door to membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded this not happen, as he seeks to limit NATO along Russia's border
"Ukraine has attached itself to the West, to NATO," Albert said. "They still have military agreements, treaties, economic treaties, business treaties or relationships, even though there's no NATO treaty in place between Ukraine and NATO and the United states
The NATO members bordering Russia also present a concern. The potential impact of the Ukraine conflict on United states interests is considered "significant," by the Council on Foreign Relations, which said in part that the conflict "risks further deterioration of United states .-Russia relations and greater escalation if Russia expands its presence in Ukraine or into NATO countries
As Russia tries to "reassert itself into the great power game," the United states is seeking to maintain the balance of power in Europe and "protect Ukraine as a buffer against Russian-perceived aggression in Europe itself," Albert said, noting that Ukraine is "strategically important" for Russia, the United states and NATO
The United states has sent thousands of additional troops to Central and Eastern Europe in recent weeks, though Biden has made it clear he won't be sending any to Ukraine to fight Russia and has stressed the importance of diplomacy toward achieving de-escalation.
In an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt earlier this week, Biden acknowledged the risk of further aggression. When asked what scenario could prompt him to send troops to aid Americans in Ukraine, Biden said, "There's not. That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another
"We're dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It's a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly," he said
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