US and German Leaders: "Will End 'Nord Stream 2' Pipeline if Russia Invades Ukraine" (Comprehensive)

Scholz, German Chancellor, Emphasizes "Trust in US Track Record"
US-EU Energy Measures Discussed... "LNG Supply Cooperation"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on the 7th (local time) during their first summit at the White House that they would take strong joint action in response to a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Aware of criticisms from some NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member countries that Germany has shown a lukewarm response to sanctions against Russia, they emphasized that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a direct gas pipeline between Germany and Russia, would be dismantled in case of emergency.

President Biden said at a joint press conference immediately after the meeting with Chancellor Scholz, "The most important topic of today's meeting is a unified approach to deter Russia's threat against Ukraine," adding, "If Russia further invades Ukraine, we and all NATO allies are ready to respond. We discussed closely cooperating to impose strong sanctions so that Russia pays a swift and severe price in case of emergency."

He continued, "If Russian tanks and troops cross the Ukrainian border, Nord Stream 2 will no longer exist," emphasizing, "We will put an end to it." This statement is interpreted as a response to criticisms inside and outside NATO that Nord Stream 2 weakens NATO's ability to respond to Russia.

Chancellor Scholz avoided giving a direct answer to questions about the possibility of dismantling Nord Stream 2 in an emergency but stressed cooperation with the U.S. Scholz said, "We are absolutely united," and emphasized, "There is no need to regain trust in the U.S.-Germany relationship. We fully trust the United States."

Separately from the U.S.-Germany summit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Security, and Policy, to discuss energy measures in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

At a press conference, Secretary Blinken said, "We will cooperate to prevent a European energy shock that could occur if Russia invades Ukraine." Following the energy measures meeting, both sides stated in a joint declaration, "We will cooperate to provide additional and diversified liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies," and declared, "Using energy supplies as a weapon is unacceptable."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense revealed that Russia continues to add troops near the Ukrainian border, heightening military tensions. John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, said at a press briefing, "Over the past weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin added troops along the border between Ukraine and Belarus," and emphasized, "U.S. troops who have arrived in Romania and Poland will begin necessary training as soon as they are settled."

Earlier, on the 2nd, the U.S. government announced it would deploy 3,000 troops, including 2,000 from within the U.S. and 1,000 from U.S. forces in Germany, to Eastern European countries such as Romania and Poland. These troops are expected to be organized into NATO rapid response forces in case of emergency to deter a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.