Biden says he will end Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine

Biden says he will end Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine. 

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden announced in a statement on Monday that Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be shut down if Russia enters Ukraine and emphasized his solidarity and cooperation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the West gathers to prevent conflict in Europe.

In a White House press conference with Biden, the new German president, Biden, a longtime opponent of the pipeline project it has been in operation for 10 years that connects Germany from Russia, said Russian forces that crossed into Ukraine could trigger a shutdown.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the … border of Ukraine again. So then there will be … no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it,” Biden stated. In response to a question about how, since the project is under German supervision, Biden said: “I promise you, we’ll be able to do it.”

Scholz stated that Scholz said that the United States and Germany had the same approach towards Ukraine and Russia and sanctions. 

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However, they did not specifically declare that the Nord Stream 2 plans or reference the pipeline with a name throughout his visit.

If both the United States and Germany are on the same page about the $11 billion projects is an important issue in the wake of the two largest democracies acting as NATO allies in a fight towards Russian Vladimir Putin.

Russia has amassed around 100,000 troops close to bordering Ukraine border. Russia denies seeking to invade. However, U.S. officials say an attack could happen in the next few days or weeks.

Scholz, who is under fire both in the United States and elsewhere for what is perceived as a lack of leadership during the current crisis, said to reporters Russia would pay a high price should it invade Ukraine and claimed Germany, as well as Germany and the United States, had the same strategy.

“We will be united. We will act together. And we will take all the necessary steps,” Scholz stated in English.

Even before the pipeline runs, Germany uses Russian gas to supply half of its energy requirements. 

The government has delayed the approval of Nord Stream 2’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline until, at the very least, the second half of 2022. 

However, it has not ruled out canceling the pipeline project, which is nearly complete.

Biden and Scholz both stressed their preference for diplomacy to resolve conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine conflict.

In the morning, Macron had a meeting with the Russian leader Putin. It said to Putin that he aims to avoid conflict and establish trust as a Russian leader.

Scholz also had a meeting with important lawmakers from both parties on Monday night, including the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Senate chairman Mitch McConnell.

Biden declared that he does not doubt the reliability of Germany as a partner. 

He also said Scholz was in earned the United States’ complete trust. “There is no doubt about Germany’s partnership with the United States. None,” Biden declared.

Biden and U.S. officials emphasized that Germany was the second biggest aid provider to non-military Kyiv following that of the United States and that they were considering sanctions against Russia in conjunction.

Details of the sanctions plan are not yet finalized. However, according to a U.S. official, excluding Russia completely from the SWIFT payment system is a possibility.

Steven Sokol, president of the American Council on Germany, said Scholz required clarification of Germany’s position regarding Nord Stream 2 and showed more “creativity” in assisting Ukraine without bringing weapons.

“Germany has to understand that if it wants to be more of a player on the world stage and carry more responsibility, then with that comes taking more action,” Sokol stated. “To be a leader, Germany has to do more.”