Madeline Chambers and Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – On Wednesday, both the United States of America and Germany’s highest diplomats reiterated their intention to impose penalties on Russia for invading Ukraine. The German Foreign Minister Annalena Bock stressed that there must be a diplomatic solution for the heightened tensions with Moscow.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his newly installed German counterpart met at the State Department ahead of a series of meetings https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-head-convenes-council-with-russia-jan-12-2022-01-04 with Russian officials in Europe next week.

Alarmed by Russia’s militarism along Ukraine’s borders, Washington rallied European allies in threatening Russia with sanctions to attempt to reduce tensions.

“Strong trans-Atlantic solidarity is the most effective response and most effective tool that we have in countering Russian aggression,” Blinken said, repeating a pledge https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/blinken-warns-high-impact-economic-steps-if-russia-invades-ukraine-2021-12-01 to go further than any previous sanctions against Russia and “inflict very significant costs on Russia’s economy and financial system” in the event Russia invades Ukraine.

Baerbock claimed that Russia understood it was the “common posture” of Europe to impose serious consequences in the event there was an invasion. He did not however specify the type of sanctions Germany would take.

There is no other solution than a political one. “This has to be obvious to the Russian Government,” Baerbock stated, according to live interpretations of her remarks following her meeting.

Russia is accused by Ukraine of having assembled around 100,000 soldiers in readiness for an invasion. This raises fears that the simmering conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass could escalate into war with neighboring ex-Soviet republics.

Joe Biden, President of the United States, has committed to continuing providing military support to Ukraine in defense against Russian aggression.

Baerbock claimed that Germany took a different position than the United States in supplying arms to Ukraine. But, Germany was still supporting Ukraine’s military forces with medical supplies and treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Baerbock and Blinken also spoke out about the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 pipe that will deliver to Germany. It would bypass existing routes through Ukraine.

Baerbock said the new coalition government that took power in Berlin last month supported a joint statement https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-germany-deal-nord-stream-2-pipeline-draws-ire-lawmakers-both-countries-2021-07-21 signed with Washington by its predecessors in July.

She stated that she had agreed with European partners to take joint effective steps in the event Russia uses energy as a weapon, or continues its aggression against Ukraine.