Explosive threat of Russia gas embargo
Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin the West will target Russian gas exports and deploy more troops to eastern Europe if he orders an invasion of Ukraine.
Senior administration officials said the US President had told his Russian counterpart there would be “clear and decisive” consequences to Russian aggression.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said this was likely to include stopping Russian gas exports through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which he described as “leverage” for the West. Germany has resisted cancelling the project but is understood to have agreed to the American plan after a call with Mr Biden and other Western leaders on Tuesday.
Although Nord Stream 2 is not yet operational, any conflict is likely to have an impact on gas prices in Europe, which are already at record highs this winter. The main pipelines of Russian gas to Europe run through Ukraine.
“If Vladimir Putin wants to see gas flow through that pipeline he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine,” Mr Sullivan said. “The fundamental object of the policy the United States is pursuing in lockstep with our European allies is to deter a Russian military invasion.”
He said Mr Biden had told Mr Putin that the US would send extra defensive weapons and equipment to Ukraine. The US would also deploy additional troops to protect the borders of the Baltic states, as well as Poland and Romania, if an invasion took place.
“In the event that there is a further invasion into Ukraine, many of our partners on the eastern front will be increasingly concerned about the security and territorial integrity of their countries,” Mr Sullivan said. “They will be seeking additional capabilities and potentially additional deployments. We will be looking to respond positively to those things.”
Mr Biden held two hours of talks with Mr Putin over video link after discussions with European allies in an attempt to present a united front to Russian aggression.
The Kremlin said Mr Putin had told Mr Biden it was wrong to blame Russia for the crisis because “it is NATO that is making dangerous attempts to expand into Ukrainian territory and build up its military potential at our borders”.
Ukrainian defence experts point to a possible invasion by Russia from the middle of next month onwards.