President Biden warned Americans in Ukraine to flee before it is too late.
“I think it would be wise to leave the country. I am not talking about our diplomatic corps,” Biden clarified citing the increased threat of a Russian invasion. “I am talking about Americans who are there.”
“I would hate for them to get caught in cross-fire, if in fact they did, and there’s no need for that,” Biden added.
The remarks were part of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s first official visit to Washington Monday where he and Biden met at the White House for a discussion on values and leadership.
President Biden: I Think It’s Wise For Americans To Leave Ukraine pic.twitter.com/MRAViYfUVZ
— Casey McCarney (@caseymack7777) February 7, 2022
The threat posed by Russia was also addressed at length during the joint press conference between the two world leaders.
“If Russia makes a choice to further invade Ukraine, we are jointly ready, and all of NATO is ready,” Biden stated. The coalition, he went on, is ready to “impose swift and severe consequences if Russia violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Speaking of any potential moves by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden remarked, “I don’t know that he knows what he’s going to do.”
“And I think he has to realize that it would be a gigantic mistake for him to move on Ukraine,” he added. “The impact on Europe and the rest of the world would be devastating, and he would pay a heavy price.”
“We cannot remain silent,” Scholz added after stressing the “military threat” in and “against Ukraine.”
I welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany today for his first visit to the White House. We discussed our diplomatic and deterrence response to Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and our shared commitment to working closely together to address common challenges. pic.twitter.com/Uu1ex9J1B6
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 8, 2022
Though 3,000 U.S. troops have already been deployed to NATO allies across eastern Europe and another 8,500 have received standby orders from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Biden attempted to emphasize diplomatic options.
In particular, the leaders were asked about potential action on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
“If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again,” Biden qualified, “then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it”
The president did not say how he would bring “an end to it” only that, “We will. I promise you. We will be able to do that.”
Last year, Biden removed sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that had been imposed by the Trump administration allowing halted construction to resume. Germany relies heavily on the pipeline that was meant to act as leverage against Russia.
In spite of Biden’s warning on the pipeline, Scholz remains confident that Germany will not suffer should the pipeline shut down.
“We have intensively prepared everything to be ready with necessary sanctions if there is military action against Ukraine,” Scholz declared. Regarding cooperation with the United States, he added, “You can be sure that there won’t be any measures in which we have a different approach. We will act together and will take all necessary steps.”
The current plan to sanction the pipeline and Russian officials comes from a bill proposed in early January introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). It would only take effect after potential aggressive action taken against Ukraine.
This bill stands as an alternative to a proposal by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) that would place immediate sanctions on the pipeline and would have allowed Congress to overturn a waiver of sanction by the president.
Cruz’s bill did have bipartisan support as Democrat Senators Tammy Baldwin (WI), Mark Kelly (AZ), and Raphael Warnock (GA) voted in favor of the sanctions. However, the bill failed to attain the 60 votes needed.
Following the joint press conference between Biden and Scholz, Cruz highlighted what he calls Biden’s “weakness and incoherence” on a potential invasion of Ukraine.
Not exactly confidence inspiring.
Of course the truth is there are still very real steps we can take to halt Nord Stream 2 – but only if we act immediately.
Waiting until after an invasion, as Biden wants to do, reeks of weakness and incoherence. https://t.co/mmPRU3qGAd
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 8, 2022
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- New info released: Patriots fan’s death could be linked to ‘medical issue’, not stadium fight - September 20, 2023
- Hacked Don Jr. X account posts eye-popping messages: ‘North Korea is about to get smoked’ - September 20, 2023
- Lauren Boebert in a string bikini could test limits of Dems’ new lax dress code - September 20, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
