Media: Biden appoints US special envoy for Nord Stream 2

WASHINGTON, Aug 9 US President Joe Biden has appointed his former close adviser and ex-State Department special envoy for international energy issues Amos Hochstein to a similar position related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This was reported by the Axios portal. According to the sources of the publication, the appointment of Hochstein, who earlier strongly opposed the implementation of this project, means that he will «actively seek an effective strategy» for the United States. He will also take care of relations with Germany. In Ukraine, they talked about the demand for the United States because of Nord Stream 2. In the spring, Politico journalists reported that the White House was looking for a person to lead the negotiations on the termination of the project, and Hochstein was considered for this role, although he initially did not agree. Subsequently, the position of the American administration on Nord Stream 2 changed. In July, Berlin and Washington issued a joint statement outlining measures to support Ukraine, European energy security and shared goals to protect the climate. In it, the parties formulated a number of conditions for the operation of Nord Stream 2. In particular, the United States and Germany stated that it is in the interests of both Kiev and Europe to continue the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine after 2024. At the same time, the White House opposed this throughout the construction of the pipeline and imposed sanctions on the companies involved. Germany, according to the document, pledged to use «all available levers» to facilitate the extension of the transit agreement for up to ten years. In particular, it was said about the appointment of a special envoy to support these negotiations, in order to begin them no later than September 1, 2021. Germany has also pledged to seek sanctions against Russia if it uses energy as a «weapon.» Don't be ridiculous: Pushkov assessed the plans of the US Congress on Nord Stream 2 Nord Stream 2 envisages the construction of two lines of a gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The project is being implemented by Nord Stream 2 AG with the sole shareholder — Gazprom. Construction has already reached its final stage and should be completed by the end of the summer. Moscow has repeatedly called for an end to politicizing the situation, reminding that the gas pipeline is beneficial not only for Russia, but also for the European Union, and emphasizing that it has never used energy resources as an instrument of pressure. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Nord Stream 2 is a purely economic project, its route is shorter than through the countries of Europe and Ukraine, and cheaper. September 30, 2019, 11: 18Infographics «Nord Stream 2» InfographicsView