Biden: US and Germany working in ‘lockstep’ on Ukraine crisis

After meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US president threatens to halt Nord Stream 2 if Russia invades Ukraine.

The United States and Germany are working in “lockstep” to deter Russian “aggression” in Europe, US President Joe Biden has said, as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Monday.

Amid growing tensions in eastern Europe, Scholz held in-person talks with Biden on February 7 for the first time since coming to power in Germany late last year.

“We are closest allies and working intensely together,” Scholz told reporters. “And this is necessary for doing the steps that we have to do – for instance, fighting against Russian aggression against Ukraine. So it’s an important meeting at a very, very important time.”

The meeting came hours after the United States and the European Union expressed “firm support for a strong and resilient Ukraine” following a meeting of the US-EU Energy Council.

Europe depends heavily on Russian energy exports – and weeks of ongoing tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border have fuelled fears that Moscow could cut European nations off from critical supplies.

“Mindful of the rapidly changing energy landscape and the continued risks to energy security, including cybersecurity of energy infrastructure, the US-EU Energy Council works to enhance energy security and promote energy diversification,” the US and EU said in a joint statement.

The Russian military has been amassing troops near the country’s border with Ukraine, sparking a diplomatic crisis and heightening US and European fears that Russia may be preparing for an imminent invasion of its neighbour.

Russia has denied that it is planning to invade Ukraine, but it has adamantly opposed the country’s efforts to join NATO.

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