Biden calls new sanctions against Nord Stream 2 “counterproductive”

Biden stressed that the pipeline is “practically finished.” According to him, imposing sanctions now “is counterproductive from the point of view of our European relations.”

Context:

Nord Stream 2 is supposed to link Russia with Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The length of the route is over 1200 km. The construction of the gas pipeline began in 2018. Since the end of 2019, the project and the companies participating in it are under US sanctionswhich have been expanded several times. Construction was frozen when 93% of the gas pipeline was completed, the operator Nord Stream 2 AG reported. A year later, December 11, 2020, construction resumed… In February 2021, Gazprom stated that intend to put Nord Stream 2 into operation this year.

The cost of the Nord Stream 2 project is € 9.9 billion, it is financed by the Russian Gazprom and five European companies: Anglo-Dutch Shell, German Wintershall and Uniper, French Engie and Austrian OMV.

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

In February 2021 it became known that 18 European companies left the gas pipeline project “Nord Stream – 2” or are at the stage of release. The reason for this was the possible new sanctions against the project from the United States. Germany insists on completion of construction.

Biden administration strongly opposed the construction Nord Stream 2, like him personally… However, on May 18, Axios wrote that its administration will not impose sanctions in relation to the operator of the Nord Stream 2 AG gas pipeline. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas May 19 confirmed it.

Bob Menendez, head of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee condemned the suspension of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG. Republican senators on May 20 submitted a bill to the U.S. Congress that proposes to impose sanctions against all organizations involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

On May 21, the United States sanctioned 13 Russian vessels, two companies and one agency associated with the pipeline’s construction. but Nord Stream 2 AG is not listed.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on May 20, speaking about Biden’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed concern that “Russia could put pressure on the United States,” and sanctions against Nord Stream 2 will be lifted… Zelensky stressed that he considers such a scenario a loss to the United States and personally to President Biden

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