Blinken called Nord Stream 2 a way of EU pressure on Russia – RBK

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Nord Stream 2 a way of EU pressure on Russia

According to the US Secretary of State, in the event of a conflict with Ukraine, Russia should not count on putting the pipeline into operation.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline gives the EU an advantage in relations with Russia, and not vice versa. He explained this using the example of the current geopolitical situation, the agency reports. AP…

“If Russia nevertheless resumes its aggression against Ukraine, then it is unlikely that in the future it should count on gas supplies via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline,” the American politician said.

Berbock did not discuss the issue of whether Nord Stream 2 will be commissioned in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but clarified that the new German cabinet of ministers adheres to the position that energy should not be used as an instrument of political pressure on Europe.

As noted by AP, Blinken did not clarify Berlin’s position, but assured that the United States, if necessary, is ready to provide support to the European allies, including in this matter.

On January 4, one of the investors in the Nord Stream project, the CEO of Uniper, Klaus-Dieter Maubach, told the agency Reutersthat Nord Stream 2 could get approval from the German regulator in the middle of this year. At the same time, he admitted that in the event of a military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the gas pipeline could become the object of US sanctions.

Gazprom announced the completion of the gas pipeline construction in September 2021. Now the project must be approved by the German and then the European regulator. On December 16, Germany’s Federal Grid Agency, which is responsible for the certification of Nord Stream 2, announced that it would not make a decision on this issue until July 2022.