Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the Munich Security Conference later this month, as the White House hopes to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine.

On her latest high-profile foreign trip, Harris will highlight America’s commitment to its NATO allies at a time where tensions are high with 100,000 Russian troops stationed at the Ukrainian border.

While she is not expected to meet with leaders from Russia and China, her meetings with allies will serve as another major diplomatic test for Harris.

‘This trip is about engaging our allies and partners and building upon the intensive engagement that is already under way,’ a White House official told Reuters.

Her speech is expected to be closely examined by European leaders as an indication of America’s stance on the ongoing stalemate.

While in Munich, Harris will ‘reaffirm America’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’ as if faces the threat of a possible Russian invasion, the official said.

Some 100,000 Russian troops have been placed by the Ukrainian border, though Moscow says it has no plans of launching an invasion, Western allies are tense at the possibility of an attack.

While President Joe Biden on Monday reaffirmed his belief that Russian could still deescalate the situation, the US is still preparing for a potential invasion. US troops have been preparing for a potential send off to Poland, Germany and Romania.

The White House has also approved a plan presented by the Pentagon for the nearly 2,000 US troops in Poland to help Americans who may try to evacuate Ukraine if Russia invades, CNN reported.

The conference, launched by Western nations during the Cold War to address military conflicts, will take place between February 18 and 20 in Munich.

The conference will gather around 35 heads of state and government at its traditional venue in the Bavarian capital. In 2021 the meeting was held virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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