Western Reluctance on Nord Stream II Gas Pipeline, SWIFT Emboldens Russia

Western Reluctance on Nord Stream II Gas Pipeline, SWIFT Emboldens Russia

Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, commander of the Novorossiysk guard's mountain air assault ... [+] division of the Russian Airborne Troops, takes part in an exercise at Opuk range in March 2021. (Photo by Sergei Malgavko\TASS via Getty Images) As the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grows ever more likely, Berlin's hesitancy to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and other pressure points, such as SWIFT bank transfer system, erodes deterrence, and may invite Russian aggression. Germany is in fact going one step further, blocking the transfer of lethal aid to Ukraine from NATO allies. Adding fuel to the fire, President Biden's remarks on January 19th differentiating between a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a "minor incursion" sowed confusion and did nothing for American credibility. Unsurprisingly, these comments were met with ire by Ukrainian officials. A number of sanctions have been discussed and threatened by the United States, Germany, and its allies in NATO in preparation for Russian military action against Ukraine. Some of the measures outlined by the Biden Administration include sanctions on aerospace and arms technology and a ban on exports of all American consumer goods to Russia. Washington has also committed to sanctioning top Russian government