Washington [US], February 8 (ANI): President Biden on Monday (local time) met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and declared that the US and Germany are working in “lockstep” to counter Russian aggression towards Ukraine.
“Germany is one of America’s closest allies,” Biden said in remarks at the beginning of the meeting with Scholz at White House. “We’re working in lockstep to further deter Russian aggression in Europe and to address the challenges posed by China and to promote stability in the Western Balkans,” The Hill reported Biden as saying.
Scholz, who is on his first trip to the White House since taking over from longtime German leader Angela Merkel, said that their countries were the “closest allies and working intensely together.” “This is necessary for doing the steps that we have to do to for instance fighting against Russian aggression against Ukraine,” he said, as per The Hill.
The United States is trying to demonstrate a united front with allies in plans to push back against any effort by Russia to further invade Ukraine. The US is preparing harsh economic sanctions that officials say would be triggered by a renewed Russian invasion. Last week, Biden also authorized the deployment of 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe to provide additional support to NATO allies, including Germany.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the first group of American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Poland following Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby’s announcement about 1,700 additional troops from the United States to be sent to the country.
Last Wednesday, Kirby said that the US will temporarily deploy additional forces to Europe amid escalating tensions with Russia. The deployment includes 1,700 soldiers to be sent to Poland and 1,000 US personnel based in Germany will be relocated to Romania and another 8,500 troops will “remain ready to move if called for the NATO response force,” Kirby said, according to The Sputnik News Agency.
Russia denies the West’s and Kiev’s accusations of preparations for invading Ukraine and reiterates that it has no plans to attack any country. (ANI)
US, UK officials discuss diplomacy with Russia over Ukraine, China: State Dept
Washington [US], February 8 (ANI/Sputnik): US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, and North America James Cleverly to discuss a wide range of issues, including possible diplomatic engagement with Russia over Ukraine and the options to deter Moscow, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday. “Deputy Secretary Sherman and Minister Cleverly discussed continued diplomatic engagement to prevent further Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as deterrents including sanctions and security assistance to partners and allies in the region,” Price said in a statement.
The two officials also discussed the ongoing UK-EU negotiations to preserve the gains of the Good Friday agreement, the statement said. The officials also discussed China’s economic activities, the trilateral security partnership between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (AUKUS), and ongoing talks on the Iran nuclear agreement, the statement said.
The situation regarding Ukraine has worsened in recent weeks with the United States and the European Union raising concerns about Russia‘s military buildup at the Ukraine border, saying Moscow is preparing for an invasion. The European Union has also expressed concerns about the possible disruption of Russia‘s energy supplies to Europe in the event of an escalation.
Russia has said it has no plans to attack any country, including Ukraine, but has warned that NATO’s plans to expand further eastward represent a threat to its national security. Russia has also said it reserves the right to move troops on its sovereign territory as it sees fit. (ANI/Sputnik)
