Blinken, Baerbock united in face of Russian threats towards Ukraine

Washington and Berlin showed a united front in support of Ukraine, officials from both countries said on Wednesday during a visit by the German foreign minister, amid fears that Russia may invade Ukraine.

"Russian actions come with a clear price tag," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during her first visit to Washington since taking office. A renewed violation of Ukrainian sovereignty would have "severe consequences" for Russia, she said.

"On Russia, both Germany and the United States see Russia's actions toward Ukraine as an immediate and urgent challenge to peace and stability in Europe," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Blinken threatened Russia with tough economic sanctions in the event of a military escalation. He added that this was not only Berlin and Washington speaking, but "the collective position of many countries, allies and partners that have come together in different groupings."

Baerbock's talks in Washington focused on Europe's strained relationship with Moscow, given the recent build-up of Russian troops near its border with Ukraine, which has prompted fears in the West that Moscow could be planning an invasion.

However, the US and Germany are not quite in agreement on the question of supplying weapons to Ukraine in light of a potential Russian threat.

Baerbock underlined that the German government would not consider arms exports, and emphasized that Berlin had backed Kiev, by building a military hospital, for example.

She stressed that there could be "no decision on security in Europe without Europe."

Blinken said that the US would continue to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons and that Washington would provide more of these than initially foreseen in the event of a Russian invasion.

He also said that the future of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is bleak if Russia invades Ukraine.

"From our perspective, it's very hard to see gas flowing through that pipeline, for it to become operational, if Russia renews its aggression on Ukraine," Blinken said.

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, to bring gas from Russia to Germany, is complete but has not yet begun operations.

Moscow has been warned repeatedly in previous weeks against any military intervention, by Washington, NATO and various European partners. However, Baerbock noted that the situation had reached a "decisive phase, in which important talks are pending at different levels."

Baerbock's meeting came ahead of talks planned in Moscow on Thursday between Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France on the Ukraine crisis.

Russian and US diplomats are also scheduled to meet in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday next week. Russia and NATO are planning separate talks on January 12.

A NATO foreign ministers' meeting on the issue is set for Friday.

For weeks, the West has been concerned about reports that Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers in areas not far from Ukraine.

Russia denies accusations of military aggression, and in turn accuses Ukraine of having moved more soldiers to its eastern areas, which are controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

The developments recall the events of 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and began its ongoing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. A conflict has been ongoing in the region ever since, and more than 13,000 people have been killed in the violence, according to UN estimates.

During her trip to Washington, Baerbock is also scheduled to meet US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Their meeting comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters broke into the seat of the US government.

"I am travelling to Washington not only as foreign minister, but as a committed democrat and parliamentarian," Baerbock said in a statement upon her departure.

Baerbock met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday. After their talks, the Green politician said one of the lessons learned from the attack on the national parliament a year ago was that "democracy does not fall from the sky."

Democracy needs strong democrats, constant advocacy for human rights and the rule of law, and a commitment to and support for state institutions, Baerbock asserted.

Baerbock said that Germans had been shaken by the events in Washington a year ago.

Baerbock, a member of Germany's Green Party, is also expected to discuss climate policies with the US administration during her visit.