The pressure on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline stems from the West's desire to make Russia pay for its geopolitical project in Ukraine.

This was stated by President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with the leaders of the State Duma factions.

“Why is everything revolving around Nord Stream 2?

They want to make Russia pay for their geopolitical project "Ukraine", that's all.

In fact, everything is quite primitive, everything is simple, we have understood this for a long time, but this is the world in which we live, ”Putin said.

The President pointed out that the “slamming” of the three leading TV channels in Ukraine and 16 Russian media outlets in Latvia are examples of the use of tools by the West to achieve its geopolitical goals with respect to the Russian Federation.

“We have to keep this in mind.

I repeat once again, there is nothing unusual here.

We, in my opinion, have been observing this for a long time, we see, but recent events simply clearly confirm the fairness of our views and the fairness of our assessments, ”the Russian leader stressed.

  • kremlin.ru

On the eve of the White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the US position on Nord Stream 2 after the arrival of the new administration has not changed.

According to her, Joe Biden believes that this project is a "bad deal" because it "divides Europe" and "makes vulnerable" the countries of the continent, including Ukraine, to "Russian manipulations."

She noted that Washington is monitoring the construction of the gas pipeline and discussing the possibility of expanding sanctions.

“Sanctions are just one of many important instruments for ensuring energy security.

Of course, we will do all this in coordination with our allies and partners, but our position has not changed, ”she said.

In addition, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that the United States had begun negotiations with the FRG on Nord Stream 2.

Berlin confirmed contacts with the American side, stressing that the content of the talks is confidential.

According to the Deputy Representative of the German Cabinet of Ministers Ulrike Demmer, Germany rejects US sanctions against the gas pipeline and will continue to adhere to this position.

“We have repeatedly stated: we reject the extraterritorial sanctions that are threatened and (which - 

RT

) have been introduced by the United States in connection with the implementation of Nord Stream 2,” Demmer notes.

As Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, Moscow "lost count" when assessing the anti-Russian sanctions measures by the United States.

The diplomat also expressed confidence that Nord Stream 2 will be completed, despite the restrictions.

“The number of sanctions waves is approaching a hundred.

But the change in our course sought by the United States does not occur.

Unfortunately, the United States does not demonstrate the slightest readiness, as they say, to explore alternative ways, to somehow negotiate.

Most likely, they will not continue to do this, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.

Political analyst Vladislav Ganzhara noted that the United States continues to make any attempts to hinder the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project, since it is not interested in the energy subjectness of the EU countries.

“The United States will use all the instruments of pressure that it only has.

Now the United States, despite all their actions and attempts at pressure, cannot influence either Germany or Russia, "the RT interlocutor explained.

He also pointed to the inability of the Ukrainian side to ensure energy security.

“What the West has done with Ukraine has led to the fact that today Kiev can not ensure either the interests in terms of transit and sales from Russia to the West, nor the energy security of European countries,” Ganzhara explained.

Nord Stream 2 is two strings of a gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year, which pass through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters of five countries - Russia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Germany.

On February 14, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak said that at the moment the construction of JV-2 has been completed by more than 95%.

The operator of the Nord Stream 2 AG gas pipeline and the Russian corporation Gazprom expect that Nord Stream 2 will be commissioned in 2021.