European Parliament Discusses Scrapping Nord Stream 2 as US Ready to Provide Ukraine With Everything Needed for Defense Against Russian Invasion

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also reported on a package of sanctions, while most Poles backed direct military aid to Ukraine from NATO countries.

Head of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament Manfred Weber stated that, in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, the German government must scrap the Russian gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, for his part, said the United States is ready to provide Ukraine with “everything necessary” for its defense.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also reported on a package of sanctions.

Meanwhile, a poll in Poland showed that most of the country’s population supports direct military support for Ukraine from NATO countries in the event of a Russian attack. 

We have gathered the latest reactions from the international community to the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Scrapping Nord Stream 2

Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament, told the German weekly Bild am Sonntag that in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, the German government should immediately scrap the Nord Stream 2 project.

Manfred Weber
member of the European Parliament

If Putin uses weapons, Nord Stream 2 is over. Commissioning would then be ruled out. The future German government must clearly signal this price.

According to Weber, the current situation is a test “for NATO and the entire Western community.” “It is important that NATO makes clear that Russia will pay a high price if it takes any action against Ukraine,” he stated.

“Everything necessary” from the US for Ukraine’s defense 

The US is ready to provide Ukraine with everything necessary so that it can defend its territory, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a conference at the Ronald Reagan Foundation.

Austin once again expressed Washington’s concern over Russia moving troops toward the border with Ukraine. He said the US is ready to “provide assistance to Ukraine in defending its sovereign territory.”

According to him, the United States is ready to provide Kyiv with what is needed for defense.

Austin noted that the United States will look for various forms of support for this, emphasizing that in the current situation “there is room for diplomacy and leaders’ work,” but did not disclose details

Borrell’s statement

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed concern over the situation on the Ukraine-Russia border.

“Ukraine is certainly our partner and ally. That is why we stand on their side,” said Borrell.

According to him, at a meeting during the OSCE ministerial council in Stockholm, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied any military activity.

According to Borrell, the point now is to show Moscow “all possible consequences.” “We must remain at the pre-crisis stage,” the diplomat said.

Poll in Poland

Most Poles believe that in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, NATO should provide military support to Kyiv. This is reported in a poll by SW Research for Rzeczpospolita.

61.9% of Poles answered yes when asked whether NATO should provide military support to Ukraine.

13% of respondents were against NATO helping Ukraine militarily. 25.1% of respondents have no definite opinion on this.

Przemysław Wesołowski
president of the board of SW Research

Seven out of 10 respondents aged 35 to 49 and almost two-thirds of those surveyed (65%) with an income of 1,001–2,000 zloty support military aid. Two out of three people in cities with populations of 100,000 to 199,999 support military aid to Ukraine in the event of Russian aggression. Men (19%) rate this idea much more negatively than women (8%).

The survey was conducted on November 30 and December 1 among 800 respondents.