Should Russia escalate its infringement on Ukraine’s national sovereignty, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear the former, and wannabe future, empire plans to do, the president-cum-dictator deserves the overwhelming bulk of the blame. But that doesn’t remotely absolve President Joe Biden of blame for enabling Putin’s escalation, nor does pointing out that our president failed our Ukrainian ally and aided Russia. Of course, Biden’s stateside allies would have us believe the opposite.

Putin may have been the one to initiate the creation of Nord Stream 2, the German-authorized pipeline designed to render the continent further dependent on Russian oil, but it was Biden who gave it the ultimate green light. While former President Donald Trump dissuaded the pipeline’s construction, signing a law to impose sanctions on those aiding in its construction, Biden waived sanctions on both the main consortium creating the pipeline and on the Nord Stream 2 CEO. As recently as last month, just six Democrats defied the White House and voted with Republicans to reimpose sanctions, still failing to secure the 60-vote majority required to succeed.