Russia and Germany have consistently claimed that the Nord Stream 2 project is strictly commercial, that gas and politics do not belong together.
The same is said by the company, which is mainly owned by Russian Gazprom and German companies.
German politicians have long tried to downplay the political significance of the leadership and as recently as last week, the German Minister of Defense said that Nordstream 2 should not be involved in the ongoing conflict.
Germany the key
It is mainly Germany that is considered to be the key to Nord Stream 2's being or not being.
When Germany's new Chancellor, Olaf Scholtz, met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, he was asked about the gas pipeline.
He answered:
- Everything can be discussed if Russia invades Ukraine.
This is the first time he has spoken about the gas pipeline in relation to the Ukraine conflict.
His party, the SPD, has long been a supporter of Nord Stream 2. At the same time, his coalition partner, the Greens, has a much more critical stance on it.
Key in the Ukraine conflict
But the project is closely linked to Ukraine.
On the day Nord Stream 2 is launched, Gazprom will not have to ship its gas via Ukraine as it does today, thus avoiding paying transit fees to Ukraine.
At the same time, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that gas must continue to flow through Ukraine even if Nord Stream 2 opens.
A position that Olaf Scholtz also holds.
The gas as pressure
Russia wants to sell its gas to Europe and Europe - at least parts of it - needs to buy Russian gas.
At the same time, Russia is accused of doing what critics fear, of using gas as a means of pressure.
That after gas prices in Europe soared this winter.
Whether and when Nord Stream 2 will open is still unclear at the same time as negotiations on Ukraine's future are underway and the winter is not over yet.
Amerikanska sanktioner och politiska debatter – se en sammanfattning av turerna kring Nord Stream 2 nedan.
Javascript är avstängt
Javascript måste vara påslaget för att kunna spela video
Läs mer om webbläsarstöd
Webbläsaren stöds inte
SVT stödjer inte uppspelning i din webbläsare. Vi rekommenderar därför att du byter till en annan webbläsare.
Läs mer om webbläsarstöd
Amerikanska sanktioner och politiska debatter – se en sammanfattning av turerna kring Nord stream 2. Foto: SVT/Nord stream 2