US will continue to oppose Nord Stream 2 – Department of State / GORDON

“Our policy, as we very clearly stated, including in the context of the announcement of a joint statement with Germany a few months ago, is that we continue to oppose this pipeline. We still believe that this is a geopolitical project of the Russian Federation. And we will continue to apply the law is in accordance with our periodic revisions, which, of course, continue, “said the speaker.

Context:

Nord Stream 2 is supposed to link Russia with Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Its construction fully completed, the Russian corporation Gazprom said on September 10. Olena Zerkal, Advisor to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, said on September 7 that the gas pipeline not certified yet… The procedure stipulates that the launch of Nord Stream 2 must be approved by the European Commission, said Yuriy Vitrenko, chairman of the board of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.

The authorities of Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia consider “Nord Stream 2” a threat to Europe’s energy security.

Joe Biden’s Administration opposed construction gas pipeline, but at the end of May this year the head of the White House called “counterproductive” from the point of view of relations with Europe, the introduction of new sanctions against Nord Stream 2, since the gas pipeline is “practically finished.”

Germany and the United States reported on July 21 that signed an agreement on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline… Germany promised that it would apply national sanctions against Russia and call for effective EU measures if the Russian Federation will continue to use gas as an instrument of pressure on other countries or “will commit further aggressive actions against Ukraine.” According to the agreement, transit through Ukraine after the commissioning of the gas pipeline must be renewed for 10 years (the current transit contract ends in 2024).

Supreme Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Germany 25 August ordered the pipeline operator be independent from Gazprom and adhere to European legislation. General Director of the “Operator GTS of Ukraine” Serhiy Makogon said that this is “exactly what Ukraine insists on”.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on September 15 that the German regulator could issue gas pipeline launch permit Nord Stream 2 by early 2022.

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