Nord Stream 2: the gas pipeline project threatened by tensions between Russia and Ukraine

If an attack by Moscow were launched against Ukraine, sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany would be considered.

Odd ANDERSEN/AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

American-Russian meetings, summit between NATO and Russia, meeting of the organization for security in Europe, since January 10, diplomatic meetings have been linked.

At the center are fears of an attack by Moscow on Ukraine, where Russia is threatened with reprisals if such an operation were decided.

Among the possible measures, sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany.

A subject that is causing divisions within the new coalition in power in Berlin. 

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With our correspondent in Berlin

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" 

," said German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht.

She, like other Social Democratic leaders, stressed that her party did not want the German-Russian gas pipeline to be affected by possible sanctions that would hit Moscow in the event of aggression against Ukraine.

The SPD remains faithful to its traditional line similar to that of the CDU and ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The gas pipeline is perceived as a private project and not a geopolitical one.

This was recently underlined by the new head of government Olaf Scholz, thereby attenuating previous statements threatening Russia with consequences for the gas pipeline in the event of an attack on Ukraine.

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The Greens formally opposed to the project

The position of the SPD clearly stands out from the positions of the Greens, who have always opposed the project for political and energy reasons.

The new Minister of Foreign Affairs, ecologist Annalena Baerbock, thus affirmed in December that Nord Stream 2 would not be authorized to operate if Moscow were to attack Ukraine.

Ecologists and Social Democrats, now together in government, hide behind an opinion from the German energy regulator to hide their disagreement.

A recent poll shows that two-thirds of Germans want Nord Stream 2 to come into service, while a quarter are against it.

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