The President of the United States of America held a joint news conference with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz at the White House on February 7, 2022. The big question of the hour is whether the US and Germany are on the same page over the project that is worth $11 billion. Both the major democracies are now leading the NATO and allies in a showdown against the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, the United States President, Joe Biden has said that he will end the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine and stressed uniting with the Chancellor of Germany as the West tried to avert the tensions in Ukraine vs Russia crisis. The press conference that was held at the White House yesterday, stated that any invasion by Russia would lead to the shutting down of the decade-old pipeline project to Germany from Russia.
Biden said that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia meant that if the Russian tanks or troops enter the Ukrainian borders, the Nord Stream 2 would cease to function. When asked how the US would be able to do it since the project is under the control of Germany, he promised the press saying that they will be able to do it.
The German Chancellor said that the US and Germany had the same approach towards Ukraine and Russia and to the Sanctions. He did not confirm the plans of shutting down Nord Stream 2 and did not mention the name of the pipeline as stated by the US President over the course of his 1-day visit to the United States of America.
The US Officials have stated that an attack could occur within the next few days or weeks, even though Russia has denied any plans of invading Ukraine. Russia has deployed over 100,000 troops near the borders of Ukraine.
Olaf Scholz is currently under fire at home for not sending sufficient leadership in the crisis as per reporters. He has made a statement saying that Russia would have to pay a high price if it invaded Ukraine and mentioned that Germany and the United States had the same approach as far as the Russia vs Ukraine crisis was concerned. He said that both Germany and US will be acting together and taking all the appropriate steps to avert a war in Europe.
Biden and Scholz have stated that the preferred solution to the Ukraine conflict was diplomacy. This partnership between Scholz and Biden is pivotal at this crucial time.
