The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is almost complete, and imposing sanctions on the project would be counterproductive for US relations with Europe. US President Joe Biden told reporters about this, adding, however, that "from the very beginning" he opposed the construction of the facility.

“It's not that I could allow or not allow Germany to do anything ... I was against (construction. -

RT

) Nord Stream 2 from the very beginning.

But by the time I had the opportunity to stop it, it was almost complete ... I believe that from the point of view of our relations with Europe, the introduction of further sanctions at the present time will be counterproductive.

They (the Germans -

RT

) know how decisive my position is, and I hope we can work together on how they will act on this issue further, "Biden said.

Prior to that, Republican Senator Ted Cruz called the refusal of the White House from further restrictions on the construction of the gas pipeline "a multibillion-dollar gift" to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I wonder if Putin (for the meeting. -

RT

)

will come

with a birthday cake in honor of the multibillion-dollar gift that Biden gave him by refusing to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

Wonder if Putin will arrive with birthday cake to accompany the multi-billion dollar present that Biden gave him by waiving sanctions against Nord Stream 2. https://t.co/imQeSFUzaR

- Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 25, 2021

Earlier, White House spokesman Jen Psaki expressed doubt at a briefing that the US administration could stop the construction of the pipeline.

“How can we stop the implementation in another country of a project that is 95% complete?” She said.

Psaki also recalled then that Washington still considers the construction of the gas pipeline "a Russian geopolitical project that endangers the energy security of Europe", as well as allegedly Ukraine and US NATO partners on the eastern flank.

Current situation

Recall that the Biden administration refused to apply sanctions against the pipeline operator, Nord Stream 2 AG, and its CEO Matthias Warnig, as well as other employees.

This was reported in a statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, published on the State Department website on May 19.

According to the politician, such a decision "meets the national interests" of the United States.

"Today's actions demonstrate the commitment of the European Energy Security Administration in line with the president's promise to restore relations with our European allies and partners," the US Secretary of State said.

At the same time, he noted that the United States will continue to "oppose the completion" of Nord Stream 2.

  • Construction of Nord Stream 2

  • Reuters

  • © Anton Vaganov

The Kremlin assessed this measure as a "positive signal."

This was announced to reporters by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also welcomed the US refusal of restrictions against Nord Stream 2 AG.

“We believe this is a constructive step that we will continue to eagerly discuss with our partners in Washington,” he said.

However, on May 21, the American side imposed sanctions on Russian organizations and vessels under the Nord Stream 2 project.

This was reported by the press service of the US Treasury.

In particular, the FGBI Marine Rescue Service, LLC Mortransservice, JSC Samara Heat and Power Property Fund, as well as 13 Russian vessels participating in the project were on the sanctions list.

Dmitry Peskov then noted that the Russian side intends to investigate such actions of the United States.

“Everything is as usual with colleagues.

They talk about one thing, do something else, ”said the press secretary of the Russian president.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again criticized the US "extraterritorial sanctions".

In her opinion, this is a tool that "can be questioned."

At the same time, Merkel expressed her readiness to reach an understanding with Washington regarding Nord Stream 2.

“There will probably still be discussions and conversations with America about Nord Stream 2,” the Handelsblatt newspaper quotes her as said at the EU summit in Brussels.

"Knock out preferences"

As the American political scientist Malek Dudakov noted, Biden's statement about the counterproductiveness of further sanctions against Nord Stream 2 should be considered primarily in the context of the upcoming meeting between the Russian President and the head of the White House.

“A bilateral summit of the Russian Federation and the United States will take place in mid-June.

Against this background, Biden wants to show the Russian side that his administration is negotiable and constructive.

And a concession on the project is a convenient way for the American president to demonstrate this, ”the analyst said in a conversation with RT.

A similar position is shared by Nikita Danyuk, a member of the Public Chamber, first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the RUDN University.

According to him, Biden and his entourage are now "creating a neutral and even friendly information background" before the meeting with Putin.

“The US President shows that the American side is ready in some respects to abandon the policy of pressure, including sanctions, against Russia.

Due to his concession, he wants to create an additional instrument of political bargaining, within which he will try to knock out certain preferences from Moscow, "the expert said in an interview with RT.

  • The White house

  • AFP

  • © SAUL LOEB

Danyuk also believes that the decision to refuse to apply sanctions against the gas pipeline is focused both on Germany itself and on the European partners of the United States in general.

“Among other things, Biden wants to restore the old trust between Europe and the United States, as well as transatlantic unity.

To do this, he needs to show the European countries, and especially the FRG, that the United States honors their interests and understands perfectly well that from the point of view of business, Nord Stream 2 is beneficial, ”Danyuk said.

At the same time, Washington does not abandon its traditional accusations against the project, he notes.

“The construction of the gas pipeline remains unacceptable for the White House.

However, the actual sanctions could not have influenced the construction of the gas pipeline in any way.

In addition, Europe is extremely interested in the Nord Stream 2 being launched at full capacity, ”the analyst stated.

As Dudakov specified, the American side has no more opportunities and leverage to resist the construction of the gas pipeline.

“Even if there are still some options with restrictions, they cannot affect the project.

In view of this, Washington has already begun to recognize the objective reality, which is that Nord Stream 2 will soon be completed, "the expert said.

Danyuk, for his part, noted that the American principle of extraterritoriality, which the Europeans really do not like, is unacceptable from the point of view of international law.

“However, the Americans use it as an instrument of political pressure and sometimes outright blackmail.

It turns out that European companies are forced to depend on the American political leadership, ”the analyst said.

At the same time, as Danyuk predicted, the United States will continue to urge to stop the construction of the gas pipeline.

"They need such rhetoric in the information space, but in reality there will be no expansion of the sanctions list," the expert concluded.