..
Normally, I wouldn't question this, but it's just possible Tapper has it right this time. Ooooh, it feels funny just writing that.
Ukraine has harsh words for CNN
President Zelensky did not cancel a meeting with German Foreign Minister
Annalena Baerbock over disagreements, Kiev claims
Writing on Twitter, Oleg Nikolenko was reacting to a claim published by one of the network's anchors, Jake Tapper, who reported, citing an anonymous Ukrainian government source, that Zelensky refused to meet Baerbock because of her refusal to say that the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be shelved if Russia were to launch an invasion of Ukraine. The official reason was a scheduling error.
A scheduling error! So, for two days Zelensky had more important things to do than to meet with the Foreign Minister of Germany!!!!???
“Rumors, ‘close’ sources, conspiracy theories won’t drive a wedge between strong Ukraine/Germany relationship,” Nikolenko tweeted. “Claims that President Zelensky didn’t meet with FM Baerbock in order to send a political message are divorced from reality. We won’t allow anyone to undermine Ukraine/Germany partnership.”
This claim has repeatedly been denied by the Kremlin, and it has also been played down by Zelensky. However, in light of the potential for war, the US and EU have begun preparing a set of measures that could be imposed on Russia in retaliation.
One of the possible targets for sanctions could be the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, a system that connects Russia to Germany without passing through any third country. This means that, once it starts operation, gas transit will become less reliant on third parties, thereby lowering the commodity’s price.
It is yet to receive certification, however, leaving the pipeline dormant. In recent weeks, Western nations have floated the idea of completely putting a stop to the project if Russia invades Ukraine. Berlin has refused to publicly back the idea.
Furthermore, Germany has received a barrage of criticism from Kiev in recent weeks for refusing to export weapons to Ukraine, unlike some other NATO countries, such as the US and the UK. Last month, the mayor of Kiev, former heavyweight boxer Vitaly Klitschko, told Berlin-based newspaper Bild that he was left “speechless” after Germany decided to send protective equipment instead of lethal weaponry.
“The Defense Minister has obviously not understood that we are dealing with a perfectly equipped Russian army that can start further invading Ukraine at any time,” Klitschko told Bild. “5000 helmets are an absolute joke. What will Germany send in support next? Pillows?”
Germany an ‘occupied state’ — Russia
US ambassadors give orders in Berlin, backed by American boots on the ground,
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman tells RT
The US continues to “occupy” Germany by any scientific standard, while America’s NATO allies have surrendered all their sovereignty to Washington and aren’t allowed to have a say on issues like Nord Stream 2, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RT in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
Commenting on US President Joe Biden’s talk of “shutting down” the Nord Stream 2 pipeline during the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Washington on Monday, Zakharova pointed out that Berlin remains under Washington’s thumb long after the Cold War’s end.
“Germany, according to a number of relevant characteristics – this is neither mine, nor Russia’s opinion, this is according to political, logical, terms and metrics – remains, one way or another, an occupied state: 30,000 of American [troops] are stationed there,” she told RT.
I have a highly educated, liberal friend in Germany, who hates Russia, but would certainly agree with this assessment. I have no doubt that many Germans also agree.
Zakharova added that “American ambassadors to Germany, who are supposed to work there to improve bilateral relations, are giving orders to German officials.” Richard Grenell, who was the US ambassador to Berlin during the Trump presidency, was “giving them orders literally every day on what to do on issues such as Nord Stream 2.”
Germany is being treated like “simply a protectorate” by the US, Zakharova said, adding that this doesn’t just take the form of financial leverage of threats, but is “backed up by 30,000 American boots on the ground.”
Or, actually, 60,000 since most of them have two feet.
Why Berlin allows itself to be treated like this is a question to ask Germany, but “the fact is that it’s not a relationship of equals,” Zakharova said.
Washington’s attempts to block Berlin from buying Russian natural gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline show complete disdain for German interests, she explained. “Germany needs this gas not because they like Russia or want to please us – they just need it, it’s what feeds their economy, it’s a resource their industrial development hinges on, it’s what they need to live, basically… a vital issue.”
Instead, Washington is trying to strong-arm Germany into buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US. However, the price of American LNG is much higher, so the US told Germany to tax the people some more and make up the difference through subsidies, according to the Russian spokeswoman.
OMG!
“What kind of talk is that? What free market are you talking about? Or the liberal economy, or the WTO?” she asked, noting that this is literally using energy as political leverage – exactly what the US accused Russia of wanting to do.
This is exactly what the US has been doing to its closest allies,
not to rivals or enemies, but to its own NATO partners…
No one has allowed them any sort of independence or sovereignty.
In Zakharova’s view, the rest of Europe isn’t any better off. She pointed to the US leadership lining up European NATO members and ordering them to spend 2% of their GDP on the military or else.
“And they talk like that to everyone,” Zakharova said. Russia, China and a few other countries refused to be ordered around, she said. “But most of them, if you take the EU, just surrendered. There’s been no talk of any sovereign interests for a long time now.”
Russia, by contrast, refuses to be talked to this way. “You can order around anyone who likes it – but we don’t, so you won’t talk like that to us,” Zakharova said. “If you violate something that concerns our interests and go against international law, you will receive actions in response.”
And if you don't believe the above assertions, just read this:
Biden threatens to shut down Nord Stream 2 pipeline
US President Joe Biden said an invasion of Ukraine by Russia would put an end
to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project
US President Joe Biden has threatened to shut down Nord Stream 2, a crucial Germany-Russia pipeline, if Russian troops cross the border into Ukraine. Biden made the threat as he was speaking alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a joint press conference in the White House on Monday.
“We will bring an end to it,” Biden said of the pipeline. When grilled by a journalist on how exactly Washington would be able to block the project since it was “within Germany’s control,” Biden refused to elaborate, saying only: “We will, I promise you, we’ll be able to do it.”
It remained unclear, however, if Scholz was on board with the idea. When asked directly about the fate of the project if Russia invades Ukraine, the German leader refrained from mentioning the pipeline by name.
“We have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military aggression against Ukraine,” the German chancellor said, adding that he wouldn’t go into specifics “because Russia should understand that there might be even more to come.”
The Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline has already been completed, but is still awaiting the go-ahead from German regulators. The approval of the project was suspended in mid-November.
Biden and other White House officials have warned in recent weeks of an imminent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, citing troop movements in the region. Moscow has consistently denied it is preparing for an invasion, dismissing all reports of an inevitable military conflict as fake news.
Biden himself admitted he does not know what Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning, but still argued that an actual invasion could be something he is considering.
“I don’t know that he knows what he’s going to do,” Biden said of Putin, promising to slap the “most severe sanctions that have ever been imposed” on Russia if the country invades Ukraine. The US president said the sanctions would have a “profound impact” on Russia’s economy, particularly on gas exports.
“It’s the only thing they really have to export,” Biden said, insisting Germany is an “incredibly reliable ally” which would support the pipeline decision. The president also claimed a “significant portion” of gas exports lost due to Russian sanctions could be made up for, without providing any specifics of how he plans to compensate Germany.
The US leader also urged Americans in Ukraine to leave the country amid growing tensions, saying it would be “wise” for those not on diplomatic business to do so.
“I think it would be wise to leave the country,” he said.
There is no moral justification for the USA to shut down Nord Stream II. It has nothing to do with them and it's a disgrace for them to be abusing Europe as they are just so they can sell them higher-priced American gas. Can he do that and claim moral superiority?
It's very disappointing that Scholz did not stand up to Biden and tell him to keep his hands of NSII.
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