President Biden quipped about the possibility of the Russian invasion of Ukraine expanding to directly involve the U.S. military, telling union workers on Wednesday, “If I gotta go to war, I’m going with you guys.”

WATCH: | President Biden to Union workers Conference attendees – “This war could continue for a long time.” “if I gotta go to war, I’m going with you guys.” pic.twitter.com/NoCb1WAVyY

— El American (@ElAmerican_) April 6, 2022

President Biden made the comment while addressing union workers at the North American Building Trades Unions legislative conference Wednesday. Biden kicked off his speech with a lengthy section addressing new sanctions against Russia.

“This fight is far from over,” Biden declared. “Here’s the point: This war could continue for a long time, but the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.” “And by the way, if I gotta go to war I’m going with you guys. I mean it,” he claimed.

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Biden’s statement comes after months of the President and other Administration officials asserting that the U.S. will not deploy troops to Ukraine. The U.S. military has limited its deployments to nearby NATO countries and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that invasion of one of those countries would result in immediate war with the U.S. Biden has repeatedly noted that avoiding direct war with Russia is a top priority, arguing that any engagement between U.S. and Russian forces would result in a third world war.

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Biden warns if U.S. must go to war, he would do it with the help of union workers.

Not really liking the “what ifs” scenarios lately. https://t.co/KzC7gtWLPM

— Anthony Cabassa (@AnthonyCabassa_) April 6, 2022

“I want to be clear: We will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full might of a united and galvanized NATO,” Biden wrote in a March tweet. “But we will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine.” “A direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III. And something we must strive to prevent,” he went on.

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already lasted far longer

than U.S. military officials initially anticipated. Gen. Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress in an early February closed session that Kyiv could fall within just 72 hours of a Russian invasion. He offered a new prediction during testimony on Tuesday, forecasting that the war will last “at least years, for sure.”

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“This guy is brutal,” Mr. Biden said of the Russian leader, adding that he believes Mr. Putin “is a war criminal.” The comments come as international anger grows over the alleged killing of civilians in Bucha, a town near the capital Kyiv.

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Biden would rather take union workers to war…not the US Military. I have no response to that.#DemocratsAreADisaster pic.twitter.com/rqTEyPU93e

— JoinTheFightForAmerica (@fightforamerica) April 6, 2022

Without evidence, Russia alleged the images of atrocities had been staged by Ukraine. President Biden’s intervention follows the publication of new satellite photos by the earth observation company Maxar, which show bodies lining Bucha’s streets during its occupation by Russian forces.