Disagreement in the Ranks about Russian Pipeline

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Editorial Staff - February 8, 2022

It has been a busy couple of days behind the scenes. In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, President Joe Biden met with Germany’s new leader Monday and vowed that the crucial Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline will be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. News that was not welcomed by our fully endorsed by Scholz.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin retorted that the U.S. and its allies are the only ones talking invasion, but the writing seems to be on the wall with Russia's massive military build-up along the Ukrainian border. Russia to this point has massed thousands of troops at the Ukraine border, adding military might almost daily.

On the other side of the world, Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron met for more than five hours in Moscow at the same time Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at the White House in efforts to defuse the crisis before armed conflict breaks out, the consequences of which could lead the world to the brink of World War III.

The White House has expressed increasing alarm about the prospects of war, and Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies (many of whom look upon Biden as a Joke) for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it advances into Ukraine.

“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.” Hype or reality no one seems to know for sure as to how he would deliver on that promise. But it would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany which relies on Russia almost exclusively for its supply needs. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operational.

“We are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden said, referring to the powerful Western alliance, though Ukraine is not a member. And that is one of the concerns being stressed by Putin being a possible NATO alliance with Ukraine.

While Biden reiterated with certitude that the pipeline would not move forward, Scholz stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions in order to press Russia to de-escalate the crisis.

“It’s necessary for Russia to understand that a lot more could happen than they’ve perhaps calculated with themselves,.” Scholz said. The Russian troop buildup of over 100,000 near Ukraine has fueled Western worries of a possible offensive. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” triggering a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.”

Both Biden and NATO allies have made it quite clear that there are no pending plans for sending troops to fight Russia on Ukraine’s behalf. But what side of his mouth is he talking out of with that promise? After all, it would not be the first time that American troops were sent into harm's way, in a place where they had no right to be in the first place.

Both Macron and Putin, during their lengthy meeting, registered their disagreements but also emphasized a need for more talks.

Putin noted that the U.S. and NATO have ignored Moscow’s demands that the alliance guarantee it will keep Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations out of the Alliance, as well as refrain from placing weapons in Ukraine and roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe. These demands are all in protecting Russia's interests. As Putin claims, “We are categorically against any further NATO’s expansion eastward because it poses a threat to us,” continuing on. “It’s not us who’s advancing to NATO, it’s NATO coming to us and so it’s illogical to talk about Russia’s aggressive behavior.”

Putin scoffed at Western descriptions of NATO as a defensive alliance, saying sarcastically that “people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have learned it from their own experience.” And he threatened a wider war if Ukraine should join the alliance and perhaps try to win back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 and there is no need to believe that is an idle threat.

“European countries will automatically be drawn into a military conflict with Russia,” Putin said. “You will be drawn into that conflict beyond your will. There will be no winners.” And with that looming threat we could very well see the beginning of the end.

Macron described the talks as “substantial, deep” with a focus on conditions that could help de-escalation.

“We tried to build converging elements,” he said. “The upcoming days will be crucial and deep discussions together will be needed.”

Putin signaled his readiness to continue negotiations and denied anew that Russia has any intention of invading Ukraine. But they sure have built up a substantial force in the region if their intention is not to invade.

In the meantime, Biden warned “it would be wise” for Americans other than essential diplomats to leave Ukraine at this time

On a positive note, Putin said without elaboration that some of Macron’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, adding that they agreed to have a call after Macron’s visit to Kyiv Tuesday for further discussion.

Likewise, Biden said when asked if there remained an “offramp” for Russia in the standoff, “The answer is yes.”

Go get em Joe...