US President Joe Biden. Archive photoMOSCOW, 14 Jan. U.S. President Joe Biden could have deliberately blocked sanctions on Nord Stream 2, Maxim Minin, deputy editor-in-chief of Strana.ua, wrote in his column. with Russia, it was necessary to «avert eyes» from the assistance of the American leader to the opening of the pipeline.
"According to one of the versions, by the way, all the tough statements that are now going in both directions are a smoke screen, so as not to give (reason. — Note ed.) accuse Biden of "working for the Kremlin" due to the blocking of sanctions on "Nord Stream — 2" Minin admitted.
The author of the article considers this the only expedient goal of the negotiations between Washington and Moscow. «It is not clear why this was done if there were no real plans to come to some decisions with Moscow,» the deputy chief editor concluded. The day before, the US Senate rejected a bill on sanctions against the Russian project proposed by the Republican Ted Cruz. To approve the document, 60 votes were required, but they failed to get them. The project was also rejected by the White House due to fears that it would «undermine the unity of European allies».The Ambassador of Ukraine demanded that Germany abandon Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 2 is a gas pipeline with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year already built and ready for operation from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany. To put the facility into operation, you need to complete the procedure certification of Nord Stream 2 AG as an operator. In accordance with European legislation, it must create a German «daughter» and submit an application on its behalf. The German Federal Network Agency will then make a decision, on which the European Commission will express its opinion. According to the media, this may take several months. The process has been suspended under pressure from the United States, which wants to use Nord Stream 2 as a lever of pressure on Russia in the aggravated situation around Ukraine. Moscow urges not to politicize the project, emphasizing that it is purely economic in nature.