Germany does not rule out new US sanctions against Nord Stream 2

The US administration has a negative attitude towards the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, therefore, the possibility of imposing sanctions cannot be completely ruled out, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview with RTL television.

“I would not say that there will be no more [sanctions]. Both Democrats and Republicans are not very positive about Nord Stream 2,” the minister said in response to a question whether he expects Washington to abandon the tightening of restrictions against the pipeline.

At the same time, according to Maas, discussions of this issue over the past few weeks are such that one can hope for its resolution in the coming months. “So this topic will not always remain a source of conflict in really broad cooperation between Germany and the United States,” the Foreign Minister said.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after meeting with US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit, said negotiations on Nord Stream 2 were going in the "right direction." She also agreed with the American leader that it is "vital" for Ukraine to continue participating in the transit of gas from RUSSIA to Europe.

In July, Merkel will travel to Washington for talks with Biden. Berlin reported that the exact agenda of the meeting had not yet been determined, but the Handelsblatt newspaper wrote that the leaders would first discuss the future of Nord Stream 2. At the meeting, Merkel intends to resolve the conflict over the pipeline, the newspaper reported.

At the end of May, the United States included in the sanctions list in connection with the construction of Nord Stream 2 two Russian companies, one institution, and 13 ships. At the same time, Washington did not impose sanctions against the operator of the project, Nord Stream 2 AG, and its executive DIRECTOR Matthias Warnig.

Biden explained that the construction of the pipeline was almost completed and the introduction of new restrictions would be "unproductive" for US-European relations. On June 4, President Vladimir Putin announced the completion of the laying of the first string of Nord Stream 2. On June 11, Nord Stream 2 AG began preparatory work to fill it with gas.