US and Germany ‘in lockstep’ over Ukraine, Biden tells chancellor – live

Asked again why Lander wasn’t fired, Psaki said Biden’s safe workplace pledge set in motion a process for investigating the complaints made against him. But Biden said he would fire on the spot anyone who was disrespectful to a colleague, so his continued employment is hard to square with that pledge.

“No one is suggesting that this behavior is acceptable,” Psaki said. “Corrective action was needed and we will monitor for compliance.” She noted that, as has been reported, he sent a note to his staff apologizing for his behavior and committing to do better in the future.”

She said it is the hope of the White House that Lander will “make changes.” She did not answer a question about whether the president has spoken to Lander since the investigation was completed.

Asked about the dissonant messages coming from Kyiv and Washington about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Psaki said: “We’re ready either way for whatever decision President Putin might make.”

“We certainly would prefer a diplomatic solution. I think that’s everybody’s preference, everybody’s hope,” she said.

She encouraged reporters to ask chancellor Scholz about Germany’s views about the operations of Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which has been a major sticking point in the negotiations.

She urged states to continue following the CDC guidance to wear masks in school, despite actions by the New Jersey governor to end the requirement in his state.

Asked whether the White House should have taken more action against Eric Lander, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), after complaints of bullying and demeaning behavior were made against him, Psaki called his behavior was “inappropriate”. She said corrective actions were needed and that Lander would “be held to account on delivering on that.”

Does allowing him to keep his job undermine Biden’s pledge to fire employees who “disrespect” colleagues? Psaki said the president remains committed to having a “respectful work environment very seriously.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki started the press briefing by cheering on Team USA at the Olympics.

Pointing to her Team USA water bottle and pin, she said the US diplomatic boycott of the Olympics in Beijing did not take away from their support for the athletes competing for Team USA.

“We made a decision, the United States, not to send a diplomatic or official delegation to Beijing given the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses. That was a clear statement and policy made by our government,” she said.

But, she continued: “We’re watching from home. …We’ll be rooting for US athletes even as we made a very important statement.”

Moments ago, Joe Biden welcomed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House. Ahead of their meeting, Biden told reporters that the countries were “in lockstep” on confronting Russian aggression at the border with Ukraine.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Biden said, listing China, climate change and the pandemic among the other issues on the agenda for the leaders to discuss.

Scholz called it “an important meeting at an important time” and said the US and Germany was working “intensely” to deter a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Reporters were ushered out of the room shortly thereafter. Neither leader responded to shouted question. They will hold a join press conference after their meeting. In the meantime, we will tune in for Psaki’s White House briefing. Stay tuned!

Following up on an earlier post, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy formally announced his decision to end the statewide mask mandate for schools and child care centers during a briefing this afternoon.

Citing the state’s falling infection and hospitalization rates, he said the state could “responsibly take the step”.

“We are not going to manage Covid to zero. We have to learn how to live with Covid as we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase of this virus,” he said.

“We are optimistic that given the decreased severity of this new variant, and the continued increase in vaccinations, that we are finally nearing this inflection point.”

Pressed again on whether the US’s strident warnings about Russia’s intentions could forestall a diplomatic solution, Borrell demurred, saying it’s important to warn of the risks while working to deter the worst from unfolding.

A second reporter followed up, asking whether the US strategy – declassifying intelligence about the Kremlin’s plans and stressing that Vladimir Putin could act at any point – was the most effective approach for deterring Russian aggression.

“This is not alarmism, this is simply the facts,” Blinken said. “We have to deal the facts.” He said the US was operating based on the fact that Russia had amassed tens of thousands of troops at the border and based on recent history, the invasion of Crimea in 2014 among them.

“We don’t believe that President Putin has made a decision,” Blinken said. “But he has put in place the capacity, should he so decide, to act very quickly against Ukraine in ways that would have terrible consequences for Ukraine, for Russia, but consequences also for all of us.”

Whatever Putin ultimately decides, Blinken said, he will find a Europe and United states that are “fully aligned, fully coordinated.”

Taking a handful of questions, Blinken says the US and Ukraine still believe the Minsk agreement is the best path forward to resolving the conflict in the Donbas region. He said if Russia was serious about implementing this agreement, it would find eager partners in Ukraine, but said the Kremlin has not showed a “seriousness of purpose” yet.

“Ukraine is committed to Minsk if Russia is too,” he said.

Asked if the EU shares the US’ assessment that an invasion of Ukraine by Russia could be imminent, and if so, why it hasn’t used the same urgent language, Borrell said: “We share a strong concern about a risk that are accumulating at the Ukrainian-Russian border.

“We are living , to my understanding, [in] the most dangerous moment for the security of Europe [since] the end of the Cold War,” he continued, adding that there was “still room for diplomacy.”

“140,000 troops amassed at the border is not to go to have tea,” Borrell added. “So we have to increase our efforts in order to avoid a big risk.”

Borrell said the US and EU partners have been in “speed-dial mode,” coordinating a response to the threats posed by Russia in Ukraine.

He stressed that the goal was to become carbon-neutral, while addressing the short-term security risks in the context of the “Russia and Crimea crisis.”

“Russia doesn’t hesitate to use the significant energy supplies to Europe as leverage for geopolitical gains,” he said. “And when gas prices in the European Union from 6 to 10x higher than they were one year ago…this has a major impact on consumers” and the economy.”

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied claims that is uses energy for geopolitical gains.

Borrell said it’s important for nations to diversify the sources of energy, and to do so by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables. “It is the best way of facing the challenge of climate change.”

“We believe that the diplomatic way out of the crisis is still possible and this is our clear and first priory and that’s what we are investing all our efforts. But at the same time we remain firm in our resolve that further aggression against Ukraine would have… major consequences.

We hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Should Russia continue on a path of aggression, European Union and United States actions will be closely aligned, including on sanctions.”