Biden Vows US Will Halt Nord Stream 2 if Russia Invades Ukraine

President Biden on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline if Russia Invades Ukraine: "We will bring an end to it." — C-SPAN

C-SPAN

President Joe Biden promised the U.S. will terminate the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russian forces cross the Ukrainian border, even as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz avoided naming the project while pledging allied unity.

AI-assisted summary of President Biden on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline if Russia Invades Ukraine: "We will bring an end to it." — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • President Joe Biden issued an unequivocal warning that a Russian military invasion of Ukraine would mark the permanent end of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, stating, "We will bring an end to it." (0:00)
  • Biden defined an invasion operationally as tanks or troops crossing the border into Ukraine again, promising the United States has the capability to shut down the project despite Germany's jurisdiction. (0:00)
  • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended strategic ambiguity regarding specific sanctions targets, arguing that withholding complete public details keeps Moscow off balance and signals additional penalties could follow. (2:02)
  • While Chancellor Scholz repeatedly avoided mentioning Nord Stream 2 by name, he insisted the United States and Germany remain in lockstep and will execute identical, severe countermeasures. (2:02)

Detailed notes

## Background Published by C-SPAN on YouTube on February 7, 2022, this clip captures an exchange from a joint news conference featuring President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to the description, Biden responds to questions regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline by pledging that the United States will bring an end to the project if Russia invades Ukraine.

## TL;DR During a joint press conference, Reuters reporter Andrea Shalal presses President Joe Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the fate of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the specifics of Western sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine. President Biden establishes a clear operational red line, declaring that if Russian forces or tanks cross the Ukrainian border, the United States will definitively bring an end to Nord Stream 2, personally promising that the U.S. has the capability to do so. In response to follow-up inquiries, Chancellor Scholz defends keeping specific sanction details strategically ambiguous to deter Moscow. Although Scholz persistently avoids naming Nord Stream 2 directly, he insists that Germany and the United States are in complete lockstep and will enact identical, severe penalties against Russia.

## Atmosphere & style The exchange carries a palpable air of high-stakes geopolitical tension, marked by sharp, persistent questioning from the press corps facing two allied leaders. President Biden projects calm, steely confidence, offering a measured smile alongside an uncompromising personal guarantee that cuts through diplomatic nuance. In contrast, Chancellor Scholz adopts a guarded, disciplined posture, deliberately deflecting specific terminology to maintain strategic ambiguity while firmly projecting transatlantic solidarity.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) President Joe Biden issued an unequivocal warning that a Russian military invasion of Ukraine would mark the permanent end of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, stating, "We will bring an end to it." - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Biden defined an invasion operationally as tanks or troops crossing the border into Ukraine again, promising the United States has the capability to shut down the project despite Germany's jurisdiction. - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended strategic ambiguity regarding specific sanctions targets, arguing that withholding complete public details keeps Moscow off balance and signals additional penalties could follow. - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) While Chancellor Scholz repeatedly avoided mentioning Nord Stream 2 by name, he insisted the United States and Germany remain in lockstep and will execute identical, severe countermeasures.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Reuters journalist Andrea Shalal noted that neither President Biden nor Chancellor Scholz mentioned Nord Stream 2 by name during their opening remarks. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Shalal pressed Biden on whether Scholz provided private assurances to halt Nord Stream 2 and whether a shared definition of an invasion exists. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Scholz faced questions on whether vague Western sanctions serve as political cover for Germany to avoid measures like cutting Russia from SWIFT. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Biden defined a Russian invasion clearly as military tanks or troops crossing Ukraine's border again. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Biden explicitly pledged that if Russia invades, Nord Stream 2 will cease to exist as the United States will bring an end to it. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) When pressed on how the U.S. could halt a pipeline under German control, Biden offered a personal guarantee: "I promise you, we’ll be able to do it." - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) Chancellor Scholz emphasized that Western allies prepared severe economic deterrents behind closed doors well in advance of potential military action. - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) Scholz explained that strategic ambiguity regarding sanctions packages prevents Russia from anticipating all retaliatory responses. - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) Scholz insisted there is complete transatlantic unity and that Germany and the United States will take identical steps in response to Russian aggression. - [02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) Despite persistent follow-up questions from the press, Scholz consistently declined to speak the words "Nord Stream 2," framing the response strictly around allied consensus.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) Press Inquiries and Biden’s Vow to End Nord Stream 2

Opening the joint question-and-answer session, President Joe Biden yields the floor to Andrea Shalal from Reuters for the first inquiry. Directing her questions to both leaders, she points out that neither leader had specifically uttered the name of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline during their opening remarks, despite President Biden's longstanding opposition to the undersea gas project. She asks Biden whether he received explicit assurances from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their private talks that Germany would indeed pull the plug on Nord Stream 2 if Russia were to invade Ukraine, and whether the two leaders had established a shared definition of what constitutes an invasion. Pivoting to Chancellor Scholz, she presses him on the deliberate ambiguity surrounding proposed sanctions, questioning whether the package being drafted by the European Union and the United States remains incomplete and whether keeping details vague serves as a political excuse for Germany to avoid backing sweeping penalties, such as cutting Russia off from the SWIFT international payment network.

President Biden addresses the inquiry regarding the pipeline and the definition of aggression directly and without hesitation. He makes clear that a renewed Russian offensive across the Ukrainian frontier represents an absolute red line for the project, declaring: “If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.” When the reporter immediately pushes back to ask how the United States could unilaterally fulfill such a pledge given that regulatory authority and physical control over the project lie within Germany's domestic jurisdiction, Biden smiles calmly and offers an unwavering personal guarantee: “I promise you, we’ll be able to do it.”

- Andrea Shalal of Reuters posed the opening questions to both President Biden and Chancellor Scholz. - Biden established a clear operational threshold for an invasion: Russian tanks or military forces crossing over Ukraine's border. - Biden asserted with absolute certainty that any further military crossing would mark the definitive end of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

[02:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=122s) Chancellor Scholz on Sanctions Preparation and Allied Unity

Chancellor Scholz takes the microphone to answer the queries regarding sanctions design and allied alignment. He insists that Western allies have worked relentlessly behind closed doors to assemble a devastating economic deterrent in advance of any potential aggression, emphasizing that thorough preparation ensures the Kremlin understands the gravity of the consequences before taking action. Explaining the strategic choice not to itemize every target publicly, Scholz argues that keeping certain elements concealed keeps Moscow off balance and leaves open the prospect of additional penalties. He states: “It is part of this process that we do not spell out everything in public because Russia could understand that there might be even more to come.”

Scholz underscores repeatedly that the transatlantic partnership is moving in absolute lockstep, assuring the American public and international observers that no daylight exists between Berlin and Washington on retaliatory measures. However, when the reporter interrupts with a pointed follow-up asking directly whether Germany commits to turning off and pulling the plug on Nord Stream 2 given that he still had not mentioned the project by name, Scholz persistently avoids saying "Nord Stream 2." Instead, he doubles down on the theme of indivisible solidarity, stressing that both nations will enact identical, severe consequences: “As I already said, we are acting together, we are absolutely united and we will not taking different steps, we will do the same steps and they will be very, very hard to Russia and they should understand.” Following this exchange, President Biden prompts Chancellor Scholz to call on a German reporter to take the next question.

- Scholz defended strategic ambiguity in sanctions packages as an intentional deterrent tactic to prevent Russia from anticipating every retaliatory move. - The German Chancellor firmly rejected the notion of unilateral hesitation or divergent paths between Germany and the United States. - Despite repeated press attempts to extract an explicit mention of the pipeline, Scholz chose to frame Germany's stance strictly around joint action and unified countermeasures.

## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8&t=0s) If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it. — Joe Biden

## Mentioned Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Andrea Shalal, Reuters, Nord Stream 2, Ukraine, Russia, European Union, United States, Germany, SWIFT

## Video description During a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Biden is asked about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

"If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."

When asked how, the president says, "I promise you, we will be able do that."

Full video here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?517774-1/president-biden-german-chancellor-scholz-hold-joint-news-conference

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[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS4O8rGRLf8)

中文简报

拜登誓言若俄罗斯入侵乌克兰 美国将叫停北溪2号 美国总统乔·拜登承诺，若俄军越过乌克兰边境，美国将终结北溪2号天然气管道项目；与此同时，德国总理奥拉夫·朔尔茨在承诺盟友团结一致之际，则避免直接点名该项目。 在联合新闻发布会上，路透社记者安德里亚·沙拉尔就俄罗斯若袭击乌克兰时北溪2号管道的命运及西方具体制裁措施，向总统乔·拜登和总理奥拉夫·朔尔茨提问。拜登总统划定了明确的行动红线，宣称如果俄军或坦克越过乌克兰边境，美国必将彻底叫停北溪2号，并以个人名义承诺美国有能力做到这一点。在回答后续提问时，朔尔茨总理辩护称，在具体制裁细节上保持战略模糊有助于威慑莫斯科。尽管朔尔茨始终避免直接提及北溪2号，但他坚持认为德国和美国步调完全一致，将对俄罗斯实施同样严厉的惩罚措施。 乔·拜登总统发出明确警告，俄罗斯对乌克兰的军事入侵将标志着北溪2号管道的彻底终结，并表示：“我们将叫停它。” (0:00) 拜登在行动层面上将入侵定义为坦克或部队再次越境进入乌克兰，并承诺尽管该项目属于德国管辖范围，但美国有能力叫停该项目。 (0:00) 德国总理奥拉夫·朔尔茨为具体制裁目标的战略模糊性进行辩护，认为不公开全部细节可以让莫斯科摸不着头脑，并表明后续可能还会采取更多惩罚措施。 (2:02) 虽然朔尔茨总理一再避免直接提及北溪2号的名称，但他坚称美国和德国保持步调一致，将采取同样严厉的反制措施。 (2:02)

Source quotes

[0:00] Joe Biden: If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.

Original transcript

[0:00] when i'll take a [0:01] couple questions each uh [0:04] uh reuters and [0:05] andrea [0:06] you got the first question thank you mr [0:08] president and uh thank you chancellor [0:10] schultz um mr president [0:13] i have wanted to ask you about this um [0:16] nordstrom project that you've long [0:18] opposed you didn't mention it just now [0:20] by name nor did champ search holes did [0:23] you receive assurances [0:25] from chancellor schultz today [0:27] that germany will in fact pull the plug [0:30] on this project [0:31] uh if russia invades ukraine and did you [0:34] discuss what the definition of invasion [0:38] could be [0:39] and then chancellor schwarz venice [0:49] ambiguity that was needed in terms of [0:52] sanctions [0:53] i just wanted to know whether the [0:55] sanctions you are envisaging and the eu [0:58] is working on and the us as well [1:01] are already finished finalized or is [1:04] there still work ongoing [1:06] and [1:08] as it is [1:14] is that just an excuse [1:16] for germany maybe to not support the [1:19] swift measures [1:21] let me answer the first question first [1:23] if germany [1:24] if uh if russia invades uh that means [1:28] tanks or troops crossing the uh the [1:31] border of ukraine [1:33] again then uh [1:35] there will be uh we there will be no [1:37] longer a north stream too we will bring [1:40] an end to it [1:44] how will you how will you do that [1:48] exactly [1:49] since the project and control of the [1:51] project is within germany's control [1:54] we will uh [1:55] i promise you we'll be able to do it [2:02] thank you very much for your question i [2:03] want to be absolutely clear we have [2:05] intensively prepared everything to be [2:08] ready with the necessary sanctions if [2:11] there is a [2:12] military aggression against ukraine [2:15] and this is necessary it is necessary [2:17] that we do this in advance so that [2:19] russia can clearly understand that these [2:22] are far-reaching severe measures [2:26] it is part of the [2:27] this process that we do not spell out [2:29] everything in public because russia [2:31] could understand that there might be [2:33] even more to come [2:36] and at the same time it is very clear we [2:38] are well prepared for far-reaching [2:40] measures we will take these measures [2:42] together with our allies [2:44] with our partners with the us [2:48] and we will take all necessary steps you [2:51] can be sure that there won't be any [2:54] measures [2:55] in which we have [2:57] a differing approach we will act [2:59] together jointly this is a good idea to [3:02] say to our american friends [3:04] we will be united we will act together [3:08] and we will take all the necessary steps [3:10] and all the necessary steps will be done [3:12] by all of us together [3:15] today [3:17] today to turning off and pulling the [3:18] plug on nordstrom too you didn't mention [3:21] it you haven't mentioned it [3:23] as i already said we are acting together [3:26] we are absolutely united and we will not [3:29] taking different steps we will do the [3:31] same steps and they will be very very [3:33] hard to russia and they should [3:35] understand [3:37] you recognize someone now [3:39] chancellor