Politico learned about the US intention to delay the construction of Nord Stream 2

The US State Department is in favor of imposing sanctions on four vessels involved in the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and four companies associated with them. This is reported by Politico, citing sources.

This initiative will be included in the State Department report, which the department will submit to Congress on Wednesday, May 19. The interlocutors of the newspaper did not specify which organizations they are talking about. Sources of the publication believe that restrictive measures against companies involved in the construction of the gas pipeline will delay the implementation of the project. Opponents of the project are also counting on support from Germany: they expect the German Green Party, which opposes Nord Stream 2, to win seats in parliament in September elections.

Politico sources confirmed data from the Axios portal, according to which the administration of President Joe Biden plans to lift sanctions against the pipeline operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, and its chief executive Matthias Warnig. The move, according to the newspaper, is likely to draw criticism from congressmen who insist that the company's activities are subject to sanctions under the European Energy Security Protection Act (PEESA), which was passed in 2019.

Axios previously noted that the State Department would not apply sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 operator and Warnig, citing US national interests. Senior officials in the US administration believe that the only way to stop the project, which is 95% complete, is to impose sanctions on end-users of gas in Germany. At the same time, the publication pointed out, the US authorities do not want to break off relations with Germany because of Nord Stream 2.