War of words builds over Ukraine and Nord Stream II

The escalation of harsh statements regarding Ukraine
and the Nord Stream II has taken several turns. Russia’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated on Dec. 18 that if the U.S. and its allies
continued provoking Russia and ignoring Russian demands, the Kremlin would feel
free to turn its responses up a notch, Interfax reported. The statement comes a
day after Russia delivered letters to the U.S. and NATO outlining the positions
they were to take on their relations with Russia.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, in
Lithuania on Dec. 19 for her first foreign visit, stated that Germany cannot allow
Russia to dictate terms, and that this takes both diplomacy and a robust
deterrence. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, who was with
Lambrecht at the time, said that the situation in Ukraine required the delivery
of lethal weapons to Ukraine, dw.com reported.

German Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck called
the Nord Stream II pipeline “a geopolitical mistake” and that his government
should shut off the pipeline if Russia engages in a military attack on Ukraine,
dw.com reported on Dec. 18.

In the U.S., Senate Democrats came to an agreement on
Dec. 17 with Senator Ted Cruz, (R-TX) that included putting forward for a Jan.
14 vote his bill regarding sanctions against the Nord Stream II pipeline and
companies working with it. The move unblocked the appointment of dozens of
ambassadors and envoys for the Biden administration.

James Hydzik: Despite the strong statements, there are no immediate changes. It is
likely that the situation will stay like this through year-end. The signals are
quite clear, though, when the New Year and Christmas celebrations are over, the
return to the topic will be as contentious as ever.