In comparison, Mr. Scholz’s relatively vague stance has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats: “The Germans are right now missing in action,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, who visited Ukraine in January, said recently. Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, has publicly criticized Germany for not allowing flights carrying military aid for Ukraine to fly through German airspace.
Nord Stream 2, an $11 billion natural gas conduit being built between Germany and Russia, has been assailed by Mr. Biden and his advisers as a coercive tool against Ukraine and other allies, even though the president agreed last year to waive sanctions related to the project.
The pipeline is on hold as European Commission officials investigate whether the project is in compliance with European energy policy.
Next week, Mr. Scholz will visit Kyiv and Moscow, following a visit to both cities from Emmanuel Macron, the president of France.
Germany has declined to sell Ukraine weaponry or ammunition, citing a longstanding policy of not contributing to ongoing conflicts. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he intended to raise the issue with Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock.
Andrew E. Kramer contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/politics/biden-olaf-scholz-russia.html
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