WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 36 Research Article Joe Biden Intervention In The Russian Invasion Effort Against Ukraine Hardi Alunaza SD1 International Relations Department Tanjungpura University hardiasd@fisip.untan.ac.id Desy Nur Shafitri2 International Relations Department Tanjungpura University Annisa Ernianda3 International Relations Department Tanjungpura University Anggi Putri4 International Relations Department Tanjungpura University Abstract The protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine since 2014 has reached an unpredictable peak of tension. The military invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022, overwhelmed Ukraine in the face of attack. Randomly bombed facilities caused thousands of civilians to lose their homes and lives. Initially, this conflict was caused by the seizure of the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. The conflict spread to the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ending in a difficult situation to control. Primarily when the United States officially provided military assistance to Ukraine during the conflict. In explaining this article, the author will use the Infra State-War Theory, the Concept of Military Intervention, and the Rational Actor Model Theory with a qualitative approach and descriptive research methods. This study's results aim to analyze the continuation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The author will look at the evolution of the intervention of the United States in the era of Joe Biden's leadership in three phases of discussion. First, this article will 1 Assistant Professor of International Relations Department, Tanjungpura University elaborate on the origin of the conflict over the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. Second, it describes the interventions that have been carried out by the United States before. Third, this article will explain and analyze how the United States intervened during the leadership of Joe Biden. Keywords: intervention, Joe Biden, invasion, Russia, Ukraine. I. Introduction Ukraine is still relatively young since its independence from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It has gone through several revolutions that have colored changes in various areas of life. One of the conflicts that caused significant changes in Ukraine stems from the large-scale protests in 2013 against a presidential decree on economic integration with the European Union. Rather than sign an association agreement on economic integration with the European Union, the then- president chose to become an ally of Russia on the pretext that the monetary crisis in Ukraine could be overcome by negotiating with Russia. Russia provides financial assistance of USD 15 billion and pruning natural gas prices up to 30% of the original cost to Ukraine (Lamusu, 2022). The people of Western Ukraine, pro- EU, took to the streets to protest against the government, sparking a large-scale conflict known as the Euromaidan Revolution. The protests continued to intensify the conflict until then-President Viktor Yanukovych decided to flee from Kyiv in 2014. Following President Yanukovych's escape, Ukraine was taken over by Russian forces in March 2014 over the area that has been disputed, namely the South Crimea region in Ukraine. With strong cultural ties to Russian life, the Crimean society finally held a referendum to disengage from Ukraine. 2 3 4 Undergradute Student of International Relations Department, Tanjungpura University mailto:hardiasd@fisip.untan.ac.id WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 37 This conflict arose several other crucial conflicts that caused startling changes from 2013 to 2014 and resulted in many casualties. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that since mid-April 2014, the Euromaidan conflict in the conflict zone of eastern Ukraine has left 1.2 million people homeless, 15,491 people injured, and 6,116 people lost their lives (OCHA, 2022). After the Euromaidan revolution, Ukraine continues to face severe challenges in light of the Russian intervention and occupation of Ukraine's Crimean region. One of them is the Russian-led separatist conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Then the tightening of control by Russia near the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. In response to the conflict, Ukraine is trying to develop an army capable of defending its territory, promoting economic growth, carrying out reforms, and protecting its democratic path. After the overthrow of its pro-Russian authoritarian President (Viktor Yanukovych) during the Euromaidan revolution, Ukraine has made significant strides in domestic reforms and agreed to become a normal European state. However, Ukraine has much more to do. Ukraine will need to make further reforms if it gets involved in a real low-intensity war with the Russian state because Russia illegally seized Crimea and continued a smoldering conflict in the eastern Donbas region (eastern Ukraine). Ukraine still faces real challenges in its conflict with Russia after the Donbas War involving the separatists and the Ukrainian military. Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and LPR & DPR conducted the settlement of the Donbas War in the city of Minsk, Belarus (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, 2014). But the agreement did not go well. On the contrary, the deal failed and increased the intensity of the war, which continued and caused more casualties. So that on February 12, 2015, a second agreement was concluded in the city of Minsk that resulted in a decision that both parties to the conflict, namely Ukraine and pro-Russian separatist groups, withdraw their weapons from the ceasefire area. The agreement includes taking over Ukrainian territory that borders Russia covering an area of approximately 250 miles and granting autonomy to regions controlled by pro-Russian rebel groups. Fig. 1. Pro-Russian separatist area. Source: BBC (2022). Since the presidency of Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected in 2019, Ukraine has undergone difficult economic and governmental reforms as it faces the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic amid an unfavourable situation over its conflict with Russia. Past conflicts between Ukraine and Russia prompted Zelensky to reflect on how to proceed with the conflict resolution process regarding Russia-controlled Eastern Ukraine and the situation in the Russia-annexed Crimea region. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many splinter countries joined the European military alliance with the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and France (NATO). The original purpose of forming NATO was as a defence pact in the face of the threat of Russia’s post-war expansion in Europe (Brown, 2022). Ukraine has a geographical area that WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 38 borders Europe, so the people of Western Ukraine have strong ties to Europe and support its association with the European Union. Ukraine has always wanted to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), but so far, NATO is still considering this because it would endanger the country’s relations with Russia. Nevertheless, Ukraine is regarded as a priority alliance partner of NATO. NATO activities are often carried out in Eastern European countries and are close to Ukraine, which is assumed to threaten the country’s sovereignty over Russia. Until Western and international countries paid attention to the conflict in the Russian- occupied Crimea region and supported Ukraine. In response, Russia prepared about 100,000 until 190,000 military troops deployed near Ukraine’s eastern border and stepped up military exercises in the area (Brown, 2022). This action sparked fears in Ukraine of an attempted invasion from Russia. The United States supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and encourages the implementation of domestic reforms. Since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, and especially after the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory in 2014, the country has been a significant recipient of U.S. foreign and military aid in Europe and Eurasia. From 2015 to 2020, the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided Ukraine an average of about $418 million yearly, plus humanitarian aid totalling more than $350 million since 2014. Meanwhile, it is known that by 2021, the allocation of security assistance funds to Ukraine will be about $464 million (Welt, 2021). Since the first fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2014, Russian-controlled forces have mainly engaged against the Ukrainian military through sniping and shelling along the front lines. That attack led President Biden to consider using U.S. military aid to expand U.S. army involvement amid growing fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine. Russian troop activity has recently increased, and an estimated 100,000 military troops have been deployed near the Ukrainian border (Brown, 2022). The United States, under the Biden administration, fears that this build-up of Russian military forces near Ukraine could signal a new conventional Russian military offensive in the country. By the end of 2021, Russia will continue to expand its military training activities on the Ukrainian border through the navy and the army. The Russian military conducted large-scale exercises until January 2022. This training warned NATO that it was expanding further in the Eastern European region. Russia, which is getting hotter from the crisis in the area, has finally declared the independence of two Ukrainian separatist regions, namely Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LRP). On the pretext of defending the two regions, Russia eventually began a series of attacks on February 24, 2022, as a form of its invasion of Ukraine. Based on the background described above shows that the policy of the United States under President Joe Biden was to help Ukraine deal with the invasion from Russia. This policy also intends to maintain the security stability of the Eastern European region, some of which are NATO alliances. For this reason, this article will discuss the policies of the United States under the leadership of Joe Biden and their significance in efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In conducting this research, the author will attempt to answer the research question, namely how and to what extent Biden’s involvement in intervening in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This study further WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 39 explores the actions of global actors in resolving the crisis between the two sides. The author will look at attempts to intervene in international conflicts that have led to security and political instability in the regional and global spheres. The main argument is that as U.S. president, Biden plays a significant role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Military intervention or economic sanctions show how the United States will proceed against Russia if it attacks Ukraine again. The writing of this article is based on the latest phenomenon of the Ukraine-Russia crisis in 2022. Since the conflict between the two countries had started in previous years, one of the peaks also occurred in 2014. This study analyzes explicitly how the interventions carried out by the United States under the leadership of Joe Biden attempt to reconcile Ukraine and Russia over the conflict. This phenomenon is also studied through the intra- state war approach, the concept of military intervention, and the rational actor model. The approach distinguishes this study from previous research emphasizing the United States as an actor. In contrast, this study will focus on Joe Biden’s policies in conflict resolution. II. Framework a. Intra-state War The increasing global security challenges are influenced by several factors, especially in the progress of global developments. Some of them are global economic interdependence, pressure on the availability of natural resources, efforts to form a new state, and armed conflict. The war between states in international politics is believed to be the dominant form of military conflict that fights for its national interests. However, based on empirical studies, more than 70% of the wars that have occurred since 1945 have been intra-state wars and are no longer inter-state wars (Jackson, 2007). Then, from 2014 to 2015, armed conflicts between states began to escalate, especially in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, and Libya. Territorial disputes and civil wars often prompt this war. The conflict in Ukraine has excellent potential for war between Russia and Ukraine and their allies. Against the background of the separatist action, the people of eastern Ukraine found themselves in a bloody conflict between the military parties of the Ukrainian and Russian governments. Rourke & John (2008, p. 253) explains in their research that this war between states occurs because a country is trying to secure its sovereignty against separatists and countries that encourage the separatist movement. Namely, even by using military force to preserve the integrity and independence of the country. Of course, the armed conflict will also have consequences and security challenges for the environment. The ongoing escalation of the war in Ukraine is a real challenge to international public order. The world's attention will also contribute to the prevention of conflict and the maintenance of world peace. b. Military Intervention Concept The United States Department of Defense (2005) defines military intervention as an action deliberately carried out by a nation or group of countries by drawing its military might into an ongoing controversy. Operationally, military intervention is defined as troop movement. In this case, military action (by air, sea, or shooting and other movements) will occur from one country to another for confrontations or political disputes. Since the end of the Cold War, military intervention for humanitarian purposes and WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 40 conflict resolution has increased dramatically. Current military interventions may involve deploying troops through traditional and unconventional means, such as disaster relief, for example, when the United States sent troops to help Hondurans recover from a devastating hurricane in the 1990s (Hauss, 2003). Much more controversially, armed forces are used to end fighting in unresolved conflicts. In this military intervention, troops generally remain in peacekeeping forces will be much more active than traditional peacekeepers. Increased military training activities abroad near the border can also increase the likelihood of military strikes, as they threaten a country's sovereignty. The increased pressure created by the situation poses a threat of military intervention that will increase the suffering of the people. In its conflict, Ukraine faces the threat of military intervention from Russia, especially in the eastern Ukraine region occupied by separatist groups. Russia's intervention against Ukraine is allowed under international law but can be legally enforced if the Ukrainian government asks for help solving the ongoing problem. Military intervention can be carried out based on the circumstances of a country. The legitimacy of a government request in a country regarding the intervention it needs becomes legal when a situation like the civil war case is found. This action can also occur if that country's government is recognized by the international community and has a legitimate government (Mamfaluthy, 2015). The United States will continue to play an essential role in the international system, as reflected in the expected gradual easing of the conflict. In the case of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the U.S. military plays a vital role in the international system. Trends suggest that the U.S. military will continue to play an essential role in deterring conventional conflict and possibly responding to proxy wars by other powers. The military also has a vital indirect function that can reduce armed conflict in the future. a. Rational Actor Model Graham T. Allison first proposed the rational actor model as the first tool in studying foreign policy. The Rational Actor Model is also part of the Rational Choice. Graham T. Allison has distinguished three models that look at the considerations of the state in formulating policies other than the rational actor model, namely the Organizational Process Model and the Bureaucratic Political Model. The first choice model places the state as the most important actor in decision-making. More precisely, Allison explains in the rational actor model that decision-making is an essential intellectual process to determine the government's choices (Fawaati, 2017). This Rational Actor Model study focuses on national interests and goals by considering alternative policies and the level of advantages & disadvantages arising from these alternative policies. In addition to assuming that the state is the only single actor that can influence the national policy of the state, Rational Actor Model Theory must also be able to see the possibilities that can arise from an event and decisions that will form in the future. This rational actor model uses four methods to formulate possible policies: goals, alternative steps, consequences, and benefits (Lamusu, 2022). The rational actor model sees the state as a rational and perfect individual actor who can adapt to the situation. This study of the rational actor model allows the state to maximize values and goals under all conditions. Essentially, as a rational actor, the state will judge the desired goals and evaluate each benefit to get the highest value (Mustikasari, 2013). WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 41 The explanation of the rational actor model fits with the actions of Ukraine and Russia as countries that want to achieve the highest profit. Ukraine is trying to take reasonable steps to defend the Crimean region that Russia wants to control with the help of the United States and NATO, both politically and militarily. Meanwhile, Russia continues to carry out its actions to constantly strengthen its armed forces at its borders to get to Crimea. Ultimately, both countries are still faced with choosing what they believe will bring benefits, albeit with high risks. III. Research Method The research method used by the author is a descriptive research method with a qualitative approach. According to Cooper and Emory, descriptive research refers to the author's ability to explore critical issues and is ideally compared to research on public exposure to facts. The descriptive writing type also does not use and propose a temporal hypothesis, although in some cases, the secular hypothesis is still used (Zellatiffany, 2018). The author describes the Russia- Ukraine conflict that started with the Crimean conflict and developed to involve the United States and NATO to secure Ukrainian territory. This paper will elaborate and analyze the Russian-Ukrainian conflicts one by one, starting from the territorial dispute in the Crimean Peninsula and the armed conflict in the Donbas. Specifically, the analysis will be conducted through data collection and analysis based on literature and reference data sources, as well as written facts, both digital (articles) and physical (books). IV. Discussion a. The Dynamics of the Conflict between Ukraine and Russia Initially, Ukraine and Russia had good diplomatic relations, although Ukraine had seceded from Russia and chose to be independent. However, in late 2013, relations between the two countries began to become tense after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych took office and ended up overthrowing his term in office as his actions were deemed inappropriate for Ukraine. The overthrow of the time gave impetus to the pro- Russian Ukrainian society that Russia openly annexed one of Ukraine's territories, namely the Crimean Peninsula, in March 2014. The conflict in Ukraine caused a sad event for the people and the government of Ukraine. The pro-Russian separatist movement in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, Declaring their independence from Ukraine (Kiev), sparked months of fighting, and a U.N. report says more than 3,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine (CNN World, 2022). The protracted conflict between Ukraine and Russia since 2014 has not come to peace. The conflict has flared lately and is caused by the intervention of the United States and NATO. Since World War II, this military organization has had a vision and mission for Russia. After the secession from Russia, Ukraine is known to maintain close relations with the United States and NATO. The aid Ukraine receives from both sides could spark conflict in the long run. The seizure of territory by Russia also took place because Russia was unwilling to give up Ukraine completely. The existence of Ukraine has made a significant contribution to the country from a regional advantage. Ukraine has a strategic area and influences the Russian state's military, political and economic aspects. Previously, Ukraine was dependent on WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 42 exporting steel, coal, fuel, petroleum, and chemicals to Russia. The financial sector of the territory of Ukraine is a connecting bridge to distribute gas from Russia to Europe. Especially in the Crimea region, this region is a strategic place for the Russian navy. Ukraine is suitable for Russia as a natural fortress and diversion area for gas pipelines running through the European Union (Hanifah, 2017). The gas pipeline is outlined in the figure below. Fig. 2. Russian gas pipeline to the European Union through the territory of Ukraine Source: Hanifah (2017) The gas pipeline used by Russia for transfer to the European Union predominantly passes through the territory of Ukraine, so when Russia was later able to take back the territory of Ukraine and the Russian Peninsula, it indirectly indicated that Russia wanted to make big profits. Recently, however, due to the conflict in the Crimean Peninsula, Russia wants to stop the transit of fuel gas through Ukrainian territory. Not only that, but Russia has also sent troops to aid any pro-Russian community struggle (Hanifah, 2017). In March 2014, elite Russian troops attempted to capture the Belbek base in Crimea. The dispatch of 30,000 soldiers exacerbated the intervention movement after the Crimean peninsula's claim to the Black Sea shores. Since 2014, the Donbas forces, 877 kilometres southeast of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, have become a conflict zone between Ukrainian government forces and the pro- Russian separatist movement (CNN Indonesia, 2021). Donbas troops poised to be in the Crimean Peninsula are adding to the tension between the two countries. Different kinds of conflicts that grow and spread to different sides are difficult to extinguish, even though many countries in the world, such as France, have supported the peaceful resolution of conflicts through diplomatic channels. Relations between the Ukrainian government and the separatist groups calling themselves the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic have been tense for years after the uprisings in the region. In late April 2014, Ukraine's interim President Alexander Turchinov said the government had lost control of eastern Ukraine. Finally, after the separatist group's 2014 referendum to secede from Ukraine, the Ukrainian government decided to separate the secessionist areas and grant amnesty to the militants. Nevertheless, the tense fighting continued until both sides agreed to cease (Kartini, 2016). According to Reuters, under President Zelenskiy's leadership, Ukraine has asked U.S. President Joe Biden for permission to join NATO since 2021 (Reuters, 2022). This action infuriated Russia., and it began deploying troops in areas near the Ukrainian border to conduct military activities. Russia continues to call on Ukraine not to join NATO, as well as asking NATO to withdraw all armed forces driving training activities in Eastern Europe. The crisis continues, and the situation is heating up. NATO's involvement and Ukraine's firm desire to join NATO prompted Russia to invade Ukraine more aggressively than before. On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially recognized the independence of the Donetsk (DNR) and Luhansk (LNR) regions, followed by sending troops as "guards" into the area. At his peak on February 24, 2022, Putin sent troops for "special military operations" under the WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 43 pretense of protecting civilians. Within hours of Putin's speech on military operations, Russia carried out air and missile strikes on Ukraine using precision-guided munition (PGM). Russia launched more than 100 SRBM and cruise missiles by air and sea (Bowen, 2022). The airstrikes took place from the northern part of Ukraine, and the main target of the attack was the Belarusian capital of Kyiv, so the situation was out of control and difficult to resolve. Russian troops marched along the western flank of Kyiv and, within days, took control of the city's coast. In the morning, an attack took place to take over Antonov International Airport in Hostomel, Kyiv. The attack aims to encircle the capital and take it from the Ukrainian government. After taking control of the city of Kyiv, Russia is eager to take over major cities in Ukraine, such as Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Summy. After capturing these cities, the Russians launched bombings on the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and the city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. This action is evidenced by Russia's success in controlling Kherson on March 2, 2022 (Bowen, 2022). Russia's actions resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine and attracted the attention of the world community. The Russian military invasion of Ukraine caused extensive damage to public facilities such as hospitals, roads, and civilian homes and even cost thousands of lives. The military attack also violated Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits any country's use of force, territorial integrity, or political independence. Feeling disadvantaged by Russia's actions, Ukraine requested the provision of rights in Article 51 of the UN Charter as an instrument for self-protection in armed cases of U.N. members (Preztacznik, 2022). The action of the Russian military invasion prompted the United States to help Ukraine break out of the ferocity of military aggression. The United States became further involved in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict under Joe Biden's leadership. b. The Beginning of the U.S. Intervention Movement in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict Since officially breaking away from part of the Soviet Union (Russia) in December 1991, Ukraine has become independent. Ukraine renounced all legacy of Russia and then focused on strengthening ties with Western countries. The United States has been one of the partners that have supported Ukraine's independence since the country's founding. From Ukraine's foreign policy perspective, the United States has made an outstanding contribution to the country. In particular, the U.S. government is assisting in promoting Ukraine's development into a secure, democratic, free and prosperous nation. The United States was even involved in the country's economic reforms, such as stopping the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine, which led to permanent normal trade relations. However, since 2014, assistance to Ukraine has focused on the territorial dispute with Russia in Crimea. Russia's sudden military invasion, involving thousands of military troops, bolstered the U.S. to launch military and non-military support to Russia (US Department of States, 2021). Russia's recognition of the Crimean Peninsula has been criticized by the United States and the international community. The Crimean Peninsula is a sovereign territory of Ukraine that is legal under international law and order, so Russia's actions encourage the world's population to empathize with Ukraine. Especially for the United States and the European Union as the closest allies. As a first step in responding to Russia's actions, the two partners seek to impose isolation of diplomatic ties and economic testimony on Russia. The U.S. and the European Union collaborated on WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 44 diplomatic campaigns and gathered votes to condemn Russia's actions against Crimea. The West urged Russia to stop sending troops into the border area if it did not want tougher economic sanctions. This U.S. policy is supported by the G8 members, who are willing to fire Russia if conflict erupts. Even then-US President Barack Obama tried to embrace China's voice to support the United States and the European Union. However, China did not ultimately vote on Crimea's legality (Kamasa, 2016). Diplomatic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the European Union extended into the economic field. The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on senior Russian executives and leaders who generally control large Russian manufacturing companies with close ties to the government. While the United States and the European Union initially tried to pressure Russia through the G8 members and their strategic sectors, in reality, economic sanctions are challenging to implement due to the interdependence of the U.S. and the European Union with Russia in the economic field. Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas resources to the European Union, making Russia one of its largest trading partners. Russia's gas exports to the European Union have reached 185 million m³/day and provide Ukraine with a small supply of gas energy of 16 million m/day. Seeing the total contribution of Russian natural gas to its territory puts the European Union in a dilemma to continue to exert economic pressure on Russia, significantly when Russia responded to U.S. actions by not allowing the U.S. to use Russian- made rocket engines (Kamasa, 2016). The intervention movement of the United States and the European Union in the case of the conflict between Russia and Europe is entirely possible to stretch diplomatic relations between countries, as evidenced by the policies deployed. The response of the U.S. to intervene on various issues in each of the President's policies. During Obama's tenure, he openly condemned Russia's actions, but he was different from Trump's intervention. Trump tends to improve diplomatic relations with Russia even if not approved by Congress and his folk. Although in the end, Trump still gave tough sanctions to Russia at the instigation of Congress. President Trump officially signed legislation in August 2017 to impose severe sanctions on Russia. Decree condemning Russia's actions in annexing Crimea from Ukraine and meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. The U.S. Secretary of State later reported that US-Russia relations were deteriorating. The deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Russia is evidenced by the reduction of 755 employees out of a total of 1,200 employees of embassies and consulates (CNN Indonesia, 2017). Evident from the actions of President Obama, who did not want to provide military troops, even though Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked the United States for arms assistance. The initial intervention of the United States to Russia on the Ukraine issue was mainly carried out through diplomatic sanctions and seemed to avoid the military aspect of direct involvement, unlike Russia, which is ready with military forces in the country's border areas. However, the United States continues to provide unarmed aid to the Ukrainian military with $60 million (Kisihandi, 2014). The United States' non-military intervention reflects the actions of the United States as a rational actor and always considers action. In line with the rational actor model theory, this shows how the United States has continued its aid to Ukraine despite its deteriorating relationship with Russia. But of course, only diplomatic and economic sanctions seem far from military elements. The United States has the most vital military aspect in the world, and Russia is WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 45 second. The military part of the two countries is undeniable. America has a military budget of USD 740 billion or IDR 10,577 trillion, with 1,956 fighter jets, 5,436 helicopters, 2,765 training aircraft, 6,100 battle tanks, and 40,000 armored vehicles (CNBC Indonesia, 2022). Judging by the war fleet and military budget, the United States can provide military assistance to support security on the Ukrainian-Russian border. However, the United States prefers financial support to Ukraine. The strength of the Russian army is a consideration for the U.S. to be rational in dealing with the Ukraine-Russia problem. Suppose the United States subsequently provides large-scale military assistance to the Ukraine-Russia border. In that case, this action will become excessive and will not yield benefits relative to the expenditure incurred, as the United States only provides aid to its allies. Regional differences far from Ukraine to the United States are one of the barriers to the United States providing military aid. The military intervention of the United States has always been a decisive step in identifying the adversary so that the intervention aid provided is successful. However, let's look at the case of Ukraine, where the United States has to compete with Russia, which has a military strength almost equal to its military power. Success is quite difficult to calculate. In addition, the Russian armed forces do not have to spend much money to secure the region, as the conflict occurs within Russia's borders. c. President Joe Biden's Policy Regarding Russia's Invasion of Ukraine The United States and Ukraine have had profound and divergent relations since the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union. In early 1994, former U.S. national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski stated that a strong and stable Ukraine would be an essential counterweight to Russia. In principle, this balance can prevent the rise of Russia and strengthen regional and global security (Welt, 2021). Within months of the publication of Brzezinski's article, the United States, Britain and Russia pledged through the 1994 Budapest referendum to give "political guarantees" to respect Ukraine's independence and sovereignty in exchange for becoming a non- nuclear state. In response to Russian aggression, the United States has increased its support for Kyiv, with more than $600 million yearly in development and security aid (Committee on Foreign Relations, 2016). Before the crisis, Ukraine was the leading destination for U.S. foreign aid, averaging more than $200 million a year. The U.S. military has provided training and equipment to Ukrainian troops, including sniper rifles, grenade launchers, night vision equipment, radar, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and patrol boats. NATO allies hold annual joint military exercises with Ukraine, including Sea Breeze and Rapid Trident. Relations between the United States and Ukraine continue to this day, with the United States being led by President Joe Biden, who took office in 2021. Since the beginning of his reign, Biden has sought to strengthen ties with Ukraine. One of Biden's efforts is to send Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to the Crimean Platform Summit in Kyiv in August 2021. The following approach is President Zelensky's visit to the White House from August to September 2021. During the visit, the Ukrainian government requested additional military assistance from the United States to fight separatist groups in eastern Ukraine supported by Russia. In addition, President Zelensky also asked for support from the United States to join a NATO alliance. The United States has said it will send reinforcements to the eastern flank of NATO countries in response to Russia's invasion. Subsequently, the U.S. also imposed stricter WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 46 new economic measures, which were announced as a warning to Moscow through the talks between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Biden further explained to Putin that if Russia attacked Ukraine, the United States would not hesitate to prioritize Ukraine's membership as a future NATO alliance (Roth & Julian, 2021). The Biden administration has stated that the United States is a "full partner" in pushing for reform efforts in Ukraine's domestic sphere. But faced with a real threat from Russia, the United States will focus first on helping Ukraine counter the threat of invasion from Russia. Quoted from a press statement by Blinken and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (2021), Antony Blinken said Ukraine currently faces a double challenge. Namely, external aggression by Russia that will invade Ukraine and internal aggression arising from internal problems such as corruption, oligarchy, and other issues that outweigh the interests of the Ukrainian people. The United States under Joe Biden has supported Ukraine's human rights violations in the Russian-occupied Crimea region. Biden criticized Russia for creating tensions that threatened Ukraine. The White House supported by reaffirming efforts to advance the implementation of the Minsk agreement to resolve tensions in the Donbas region. The White House expressed concern about Russia's growing military build-up in the Ukrainian border region. America has emphasized that any step crossing the border is another invasion, so if Russia violates it, America will impose further sanctions on Russia (Kirby, 2022). The United States itself is known to have deployed tens of thousands of troops to parts of Western Europe to stand by against a Russian attack on Ukraine. Earlier, the Joe Biden administration had approved an additional $200 million in aid projected to Ukraine as a defensive security aid. CNBC Indonesia (2022) mentioned that other NATO member states also joined the United States' readiness by sending warships and fighter jets to conduct joint military exercises near Ukraine. Until the attack on Ukraine by Russia, the United States, one of the world leaders, continued to support Ukraine. In a political message from President Joe Biden during a press conference at the White House on February 22, 2022, Biden imposed new sanctions on Russia for its efforts to take the first step of an invasion of Ukraine. The United States, Britain, and Europe have imposed economic sanctions on Russia. The punishment on this economic sector is intended as a sanction so that Russia immediately stops its invasion and makes peace with Ukraine. The sanctions include cutting off access to SWIFT services and, at a more stringent stage, the imposition of an embargo by Western countries on Russia's energy exports. V. Conclusion The conflict between Ukraine and Russia was originally just a conflict between two countries fighting over the Crimean Peninsula. However, the intensity of the conflict increased after Russia sent military troops to the Ukrainian border. The deployment of Russian forces in border areas has attracted the sympathy of the United States and the European Union as Ukraine's closest partners so that they stand ready to assist Ukraine in confronting the threat of attack from Russia. The United States' intervention efforts based on a request for assistance from the Ukrainian President are legitimate in the eyes of international law. However, they did their best not to be directly involved militarily at the beginning of the WIMAYA: Interdisciplinary Journal of International Affairs Vol.03/No.01, January-June 2022 (e-ISSN: 2272-3760) 47 American intervention movement. The administration of the new President of the United States, Joe Biden, recently cracked down on Russia for daring to deploy troops in the Ukrainian region. The U.S. and its allies did not hesitate to impose economic sanctions on Russia. Especially after the Russian military invasion on February 24, 2022, which killed many Ukrainian citizens and devastated the country. Works Cited Bowen, A. S., 2022. Russia’s War in Ukraine: Military and Intelligence Aspects, s.l.: Congressional Research Service. Brown, D., 2022. Ukraine conflict: Where are Russia's troops?. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world- europe-60158694 [Accessed 16 April 2022]. CNBC Indonesia, 2022. Awas! Bumi Terancam Perang. s.l.:s.n. CNN Indonesia, 2017. 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