Russia- Ukraine war: No commission of Nord Stream 2, says German minister
The unveiling of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is impossible in the short to medium term due to the U.S. sanctions, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck said.
"I don't see Nord Stream 2 being commissioned in the medium or short term,'' Habeck told German broadcaster ARD.
According to Habeck, the termination of the Nord Stream 2 certification two days ago by the German government was not associated with sanctions.
However, U.S. restrictive measures led to the fact that the gas pipeline could not be launched as long as the sanctions lasted.
The German minister called for political efforts to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and a return to the normalisation of relations with Russia.
On Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had instructed the country's ministry of economy to take necessary administrative steps to suspend the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline's operator.
Scholz's decision came after Russia recognised the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LPR).
On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department added the Nord Stream 2 AG pipeline constructor and operator and its Managing Director Matthias Warnig to its sanctions list.
