The federal government is stopping the approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline for the time being. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said this on Tuesday in Berlin.

Specifically, the government is withdrawing a report to the Federal Network Agency.

Scholz said he had asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs to withdraw the existing report on the analysis of security of supply at the Federal Network Agency.

“It may sound technical, but it is the necessary administrative step so that the pipeline cannot be certified now.” Without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation, emphasized Scholz.

The responsible department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs will carry out a new assessment of the security of supply, taking into account "what has changed in the past few days," said the Chancellor.

“In this phase, it is now important, in addition to the first sanctions, to prevent further escalation and thus another catastrophe.

That is what all our diplomatic efforts are aimed at.” According to reports, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had such a step examined as soon as he took office.

violation of international law

Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday evening.

The Kremlin chief also ordered Russian soldiers to be sent to eastern Ukraine.

He is planning an invasion of Ukraine for the second time since 2014.

The West accuses him of violating international law.

According to Western sources, Russia has gathered about 150,000 soldiers on the border with Ukraine.

Although the 1,230 kilometer double line from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany has been completed, no natural gas has yet flowed through the pipeline.

The certification process was recently on hold.

The Federal Network Agency suspended the procedure in November and demanded that the operating company be organized under German law.

Nord Stream 2 AG intends to meet the requirement by founding a German subsidiary.

At a recent meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden made it clear that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would mean the end of the line that had already been completed.

Far-reaching EU sanctions

According to information from the German Press Agency, the EU Commission has unexpectedly proposed far-reaching sanctions against Russia.

According to diplomats, a draft presented to the member states on Tuesday provides for a ban on trading in Russian government bonds in order to make it more difficult for the Russian state to refinance.

In addition, several hundred people and companies are said to be on the EU sanctions list.

Among them would be around 350 members of the Russian parliament who voted for Russian recognition of the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, but also banks that do business in eastern Ukraine.

The EU's free trade regulations with Ukraine should also no longer apply to the areas in eastern Ukraine.

Any person, organization or company that is placed on the EU sanctions list will have their assets in the EU frozen.

In addition, listed persons are no longer allowed to enter the EU and no more business can be done with those affected.

People involved in the consultations emphasized that the full arsenal of sanction options has not yet been used.

Sanctions, for example, against the Russian energy sector and export bans on high-tech technology have been prepared in case Russia launches an attack on all of Ukraine.

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is also unlikely to be included on the EU sanctions list.

All sanctions must ultimately be decided by the EU Council of Ministers.

The decision can also be made in writing.

The foreign ministers are expected to agree on the exact procedure at a special meeting this Tuesday in Paris.