As increasingly dire signs indicate Russia's Vladimir Putin intends to invade Ukraine,
Harris attempted to convince American allies at the Munich Security Conference that the rapidly increasing tensions along the Ukraine-Russian border meant European safety was "directly threatened" and that there should be united support for economic sanctions if the Kremlin invades its neighbour.
"We're discussing the possibility of war in Europe. Harris said that she meant to take a moment to comprehend the significance of what Harris was talking about before returning to Washington on Sunday evening. She said that Europe might be at its most dangerous moment since the end World War II.
She said, "It's been more than 70 years, and through those 70 year... there has been security and peace." "We are referring to the possibility of war in Europe."
Biden would meet with his national security staff later in Washington on Sunday to discuss the latest developments. Harris was scheduled to attend while returning from Germany. Harris and her team met with Harris to discuss the conference and their exchanges.
Biden will meet with the Group of Seven leaders via virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss Ukraine. His top diplomat, Antony Blinken is planning to travel to Europe to meet with Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister. The American claims that talks with Lavrov will be canceled if Moscow invades.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian shelling escalated on territory held by Russia-backed rebels. Separatists evacuated thousands and Putin oversees tests of nuclear-capable rockets. Putin has gathered more than 150,000 Russian forces at the border.
Harris addressed global leaders during a series choreographed meetings as well as a major speech at the security conference. He said that the world was at a "defining" or "decisive moment.
Harris met with President Volodymyr Zilenskyy, President of Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Jens Steltenberg. He also met with the leaders of the Baltic countries, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the Greek Prime Minister KyriakosMitsotakis.
Biden sent Harris to Germany in simple marching orders, to express his concern about a possible Russian invasion and to make it clear to European allies they must be prepared to impose the most severe sanctions Moscow has ever seen.
Harris stated to reporters that an invasion of Russia and the subsequent sanctions against Russia would most likely result in American losses.
Harris stated, "America stands for principles and all the things we hold dear. It requires us sometimes to put ourselves out in a manner that may incur some cost." Harris said that this could be related to energy costs.
Biden's late Friday declaration by the White House that he was "convinced that Putin had chosen to invade" Munich was overshadowed by the vice president's visit in Munich. Zelenskyy overtook her message of unity and European support in the face Russian aggression. After meeting with Harris on Saturday, Zelenskyy used his presence at the conference to ask why the U.S. & Europe were not imposing sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy asked Western leaders, "What are they waiting for?" He stated that the sanctions against Russia following Ukraine's economic collapse and "parts our country will be occupation" would not provide much comfort.
Harris stated that she would not "second guess" Zelenskyys "desires to his country", and she supported the U.S. decision not to impose preemptive sanctions. She stated that the purpose of sanctions was and remains deterrence.
Blinken told NBC's Meet the Press that once sanctions are triggered, "of course, any deterrent effect it may have is gone. They get absorbed and he continues."
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's desire for NATO membership, even though Putin demanded guarantees from the U.S. that it would never happen.
Harris heard from Baltic leaders, who feared their countries might be next targets for Russia's eyes, plead to the United States to increase troop levels.
Gitanas Nauseda (the Lithuanian president) urged the U.S. to increase its presence in the Baltics and make it a permanent presence in Lithuania. The U.S. currently sends a small contingent to the country on rotational basis.
Kaja Kallas (Estonia's prime minister) echoed this call. She stated, "We lost our independence to Russia once and we don’t want it to happen again."
Harris did not make any promises but she stated in her speech at the conference that the U.S. would "further reinforce our NATO Allies along the eastern flank" in the event of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
