President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a “united front” to further deter tensions with Russia over Ukraine, with President Biden warning that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be shut down if an incursion were to occur.
Biden welcomed Scholz to the White House for his first official visit to Washington on Monday, where the two leaders discussed the situation between Russia and Ukraine, opting for a diplomatic solution to avoid an incursion.
“If Russia makes a choice to further invade Ukraine, we are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” said Biden, warning Russia that the U.S. and its allied countries such as Germany would help impose “severe consequences” if it invades Ukraine.
The two leaders were also asked about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which the Biden administration has threatened to suspend if tensions continue to grow between Russia and Ukraine.
“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again,” Biden said. “Then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.”
Biden warns Nord Stream 2 pipeline will not be operational if Russia invades Ukraine https://t.co/fjo1WfRWyn
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 8, 2022
Meanwhile, Germany has become dependent on the completion of Nord Stream 2, as the Russian pipeline would carry gas to Germany without having to go through Ukraine.
Scholz has assured everyone that there won’t be any differences between Germany and the U.S. when it comes to imposing the necessary sanctions.
“I want to be absolutely clear: We have intensively prepared everything to be ready with necessary sanctions if there is military action against Ukraine,” said Scholz.
The Trump administration has placed sanctions on the pipeline, halting its construction. However, Biden lifted those sanctions last year, allowing its development to continue.
Biden also urged Americans living in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible.
“I think it would be wise to leave the country. I am not talking about our diplomatic corps. I am talking about Americans who are there,” said Biden. “I would hate for them to get caught in cross-fire, if in fact they did, and there’s no need for that.”
The U.S. is sending 3,000 troops to Europe as preparation in case Russia were to take military action against Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has said that officials believe that Russia is planning to “stage a fake attack by Ukrainian military or intelligence forces against Russian sovereign territory or against Russian-speaking people to therefore justify their action as part of this fake attack.”
Russia has denied these claims, with Russian officials only saying that NATO must not allow Ukraine to join the alliance, which the U.S. and NATO have rejected.
