Keynote speech in Munich
Kamala Harris accuses Russia of lying and propaganda
2/19/2022, 1:38 p.m
In the Ukraine, the basis of European security is under immediate threat, said US Vice President Harris at the security conference in Munich. Should Russia attack Ukraine, “the US and its allies will exact a significant and unprecedented economic price.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris has confirmed that the West intends to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it attacks Ukraine.
“I can say with absolute certainty that if Russia continues to invade Ukraine, the US and its allies will demand a significant and unprecedented economic price,” Harris said in a keynote address on NATO at the Munich Security Conference. The sanctions would be “quick, tough and united”.
In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, “far-reaching financial sanctions and export controls” would be imposed and Russia’s “financial institutions and key industries” would be targeted. Any individual who is “complicating” in connection with a Russian invasion will also be held accountable.
“Script of Russian Aggression”
Hours earlier, US President Joe Biden had expressed his confidence that Russia would soon attack Ukraine. “We have reason to believe that the Russian military is planning and planning to attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days,” Biden said at the White House. “We believe they will attack the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, a city of 2.8 million innocent people.”
Harris also spoke of a “script of Russian aggression”. “We are now receiving reports of obvious provocations and we are seeing Russia spreading disinformation, lies and propaganda.” The US Vice President also emphasized that the US and its allies are still open to a diplomatic solution. She accused Russia of restricting the possibilities for this. “Their words just don’t match their actions.”
In Ukraine, the basis of European security is under direct threat, said the Vice President in Munich. She spoke there immediately after Chancellor Olaf Scholz and for the first time on a major political stage in Europe.
“National borders must not be changed by force”
Without mentioning former US President Donald Trump, Harris declared Article Five of the NATO treaty, which regulates the so-called alliance case, to be “sacrosanct”. “We will continue to strengthen our NATO allies on the eastern flank,” she underscored. The US has already taken steps to strengthen deterrence and “active defense” by deploying 6,000 additional troops to Romania, Poland and Germany and putting thousands more on increased readiness.
As Biden explained, Harris said: “Our forces are not being sent to fight inside Ukraine. But they will defend every piece of NATO.” Ukraine is not a member of NATO, Scholz had stressed again immediately before Harris that admitting the country was not on the agenda. Russia’s President Putin also knows that and has nevertheless made this question a reason for war.
Harris said two world wars had created a consensus to seek order over chaos and security over conflict. Peoples and nations have the right to choose their form of government and alliances. National borders should not be changed by force.