Meetings with British, French and German ministers… Suggested use of ‘Nordstream 2 gas pipeline’ to pressure Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said on the 20th (local time) that the United States and its allies will launch a joint response, swiftly and harshly, if Russian military forces launch a new offensive action across the Ukrainian border.
While visiting Berlin, Germany, he said this at a joint press conference with the German foreign ministers after the four-party talks with the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany and the US and Germany foreign ministers on the same day.
He said, “Russia uses a variety of tactical means, and scenarios such as hybrid attacks, actions that destabilize (the system, state, government, etc.), and paramilitary operations were all considered among the allies,” he said. will do,” he said.
This dispels President Joe Biden’s remarks, which could be interpreted as adjusting the level of sanctions according to the intensity of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Regarding the Northstream 2 gas pipe that directly connects Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea bed, Blincoln said, “Gas is not flowing through the gas pipe yet,” and revealed that he sees it as a means to pressure Russia.
“Russia should not use energy as a weapon,” he said.
Secretary Blincoln stressed that the governments of the United States and Germany had reached a consensus, and said that the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) gave us power that Russia could not procure.
He emphasized that cooperation in the Ukraine crisis not only protects Ukraine, but also protects the international order based on the rule of law, which has been the basis for world peace, security and well-being for decades.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbok stressed the efforts of the Western alliance to alleviate the crisis in Ukraine at a press conference on the same day. It is the only way to go,” he said.
“We urge Russia to take action to ease tensions,” he said.
Secretary Blincoln visited Ukraine the day before and had a series of talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva, emphasizing diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation in Ukraine, and vowing to strengthen support for Ukraine.
He is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva, Switzerland on the 21st to hold diplomatic talks that will be a watershed in the current situation.
/yunhap news
