Russian Tanks Or Troops Enter Ukraine, President Biden: No More Nord Stream 2!

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with US President Joe Biden. (Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden said on Monday the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be halted if Russia invaded Ukraine, stressing unity with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the West gathers to prevent war in Europe.

In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Biden, long against the pipeline project to Germany from Russia, said Russian troops crossing into Ukraine would trigger a shutdown.

"If Russia attacks, it means tanks or troops crossing the Ukrainian border again, then there will be no, no more Nord Stream 2. We, we will end it," said President Biden.

Asked how, given the project is in German control, President Biden said: "I promise, we will be able to do it."

Meanwhile, Chancellor Scholz said the United States and Germany had a common approach to Ukraine, Russia and sanctions, but did not directly confirm the Nord Stream 2 plan or publicly name the pipeline by name during his day-long visit.

Whether the United States and Germany are on the same page over the $11 billion project has become an important question, as the two major democracies are leading NATO allies in pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, President Biden said he had no doubts about Germany's reliability as a partner and said Scholz had the full trust of the United States. "There is no doubt about Germany's partnership with the United States. There is none," said President Biden.

Both President Biden and Chancellor Scholz stressed that they prefer diplomacy as a solution to the Ukraine conflict.

Asked if Russia still had a way out of any crisis, President Biden replied: "Yes."

For information, President Biden and US officials stressed Germany is the second largest donor of non-military aid to Kyiv after the United States, and they plan sanctions against Russia together.

Chancellor Scholz is due to visit Ukraine and Russia next week, following meetings this week with President Biden, European Union officials and Baltic heads of state.

For information, Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine despite having deployed more than 100,000 troops near the border between the two countries. But Moscow has said it will take unspecified military action if its demands are not met, including NATO's pledge to never recognize Ukraine.