As more than 100,000 Russian troops are stationed along the border with Ukraine, the U.S. and other NATO countries continue to prepare for an invasion.
President Joe Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Following the discussion, Biden announced Nord Stream 2 (the Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline) would be blocked if Russia decided to invade Ukraine.
“I promise you, we’ll be able to do it,” Biden said.
Many have speculated that these talks are reminiscent of the Cold War era. Some experts speculate that NATO, Ukraine and Russia are currently locked into a second Cold War.
“I think we are probably already in that kind of period now–we have been since at least 2014,” said John Deni, a research professor of national security studies at the U.S. Army War College.
Based on the first Cold War, such a period of time is defined by its unofficial competition, lack of violence and prolonged duration.
“The conflict plays out in other ways–not direct combat between the combatants or the adversaries–but through other forms, including proxies, economic competition and ideological competition,” Deni said.
If Putin were to invade Ukraine with Russian troops, violence would be introduced into the conflict, making it a hot war.
