Biden threatens to sanction Putin personally if Russia invades Ukraine

Biden repeated that there were no plans to send U.S. troops to Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, but said he would consider imposing direct sanctions on Putin and that there would be "enormous consequences" if Russia invaded.

Reporters asked Biden if he would see himself personally sanctioning Putin if he invaded Ukraine.

"Yes," he said. "I would see that."

A U.S. plane carrying military equipment and munitions landed in Kyiv on Tuesday, the third shipment of a $200-million security package to shore up Ukraine.

The U.S. Defense Department has said about 8,500 U.S. troops have been put on heightened alert and are awaiting orders to deploy to NATO's eastern flank. Biden said on Tuesday he may move the troops in the nearer term.