German Prime Minister Nord Stream unilaterally approved the independence of the region in eastern Ukraine, which is virtually controlled by pro-Russian factions, at a press conference on the 22nd. He expressed his intention to suspend the procedure for the operation of the new pipeline "Nord Stream 2" to be sent to Germany.
As the situation in Ukraine became tense over "Nord Stream 2", the United States repeatedly emphasized the suspension of operations as a sanction against Russia, and Germany's response, which has strong economic ties with Russia, was questioned.