“Contradict international law”: what is known about new possible US sanctions against Nord Stream 2

Sanctions threats from the US indicate Washington’s confidence that Nord Stream 2 will be completed. This was stated by the head of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, commenting on the statements of the US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell about Washington’s intention to impose new sanctions against the gas pipeline.

“The oddity of the politician’s statements was that back in February at the Munich Security Conference, the US Secretary of Energy assured partners that, they say, Russia would not be able to complete the Nord Stream-2 in the context of US sanctions, because it does not have the necessary technology. The current sanctions threats indicate that the Americans still believe in us, more than anyone else, ”the senator wrote.

Kosachev also expressed the opinion that such causing economic damage in order to subjugate their own ideology is not much different from "classical" terrorism. According to the senator, "the United States has become the world's blackmailer No. 1, from which even its own allies suffer."

“And although Washington explains its measures to“ strangle ”Europe’s energy cooperation with Russia by countering the alleged dependence of Europeans on Moscow, de facto America is fighting Europe’s independence,” Kosachev notes.

Earlier, US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell reiterated Washington’s intention to impose new sanctions against Nord Stream 2.

According to him, such a move is supported by both Republicans and Democrats. It is reported by the newspaper Handelsblatt. According to the publication, it is not yet clear exactly what the new sanctions will be. In addition, Grenell demanded that the German government revise its policy towards Russia.

“Germany must stop feeding the monster, at the same time not spending enough money on NATO,” the publication quotes the words of Grenella.

The German government responded to statements by the American ambassador.

“The times when the coronavirus pandemic exerts strong pressure on the countries of the world are not suitable for escalating and threatening to introduce new extraterritorial and sanctions contrary to international law,” Peter Altmeier, spokesman for the German Minister of Economics and Energy, quotes Handelsblatt.

In turn, the Nord Stream 2 operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, and its partners believe that the threat of sanctions is unlawful discrimination.

“Nord Stream 2 and the companies supporting the project still believe that the speedy commissioning of the pipeline meets the interests of European energy security, European consumers, the EU’s economic competitiveness and climate protection obligations,” Nord Stream 2 AG spokeswoman quotes TASS Jens Muller.

“This is such verbal blackmail. Considering that we are now talking about completing the project with the help of a Russian company, the introduction of any additional sanctions ... will not stop the implementation of the project itself, ”said Alexey Grivach, Deputy General Director for Gas Problems of the National Energy Security Fund, in an interview with RT.

According to the expert, such actions may worsen US relations with key countries of the European Union.

“I still think that this scenario is too radical even for the current agenda. Because it will be a direct blow to European companies ... I believe that Washington will not go to such an aggravation. If it does, it will be a shot in the foot, since the Transatlantic Partnership is already bursting at the seams, ”concluded Alexey Grivach.

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov, believes that in trying to use sanctions to achieve their goals, the Americans overestimate their capabilities a little. However, he noted that support for sanctions will not depend on party affiliation.

“Now they will be united in any way containing Russia. There are no grounds for imposing sanctions - neither political nor economic. They (USA. - RT ) are trying to force Europeans to buy their expensive gas and refuse to cooperate with Russia, ”the senator explained to RT.

Recall that at the end of 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and the companies involved in its construction. Because of them, Swiss Allseas was forced to stop pipe laying.

President Vladimir Putin announced in January 2020 that the gas pipeline would be completed by Russian forces, with construction being completed a few months later.

At the end of April, the head of the Austrian oil and gas corporation OMV Rainer Seele said that the operator of the Nord Stream 2 company still plans to complete the project in late 2020 - I quarter of 2021. He noted that he did not receive any new information about the change in the launch date of the pipeline. The same terms were called in the Ministry of Energy of Russia.

The head of the diplomatic department, Sergey Lavrov, previously noted that the construction of Nord Stream 2 will be completed, since all European countries are interested in this.

“I do not think the project can be stopped. I am convinced that it will be implemented. Both Germany and other European countries whose companies are involved in its implementation are interested in this, ”the minister emphasized.