Construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in GermanyWASHINGTON, Jan 13The head of the US Senate International Committee, Robert Menendez, called on his colleagues to vote against the bill on the immediate tightening of US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, arguing that such a step would weaken the unity of the Western allies and deprive them of an important lever of influence on Russian policy. The initiative is under consideration by the upper house of Congress Republican Senator Ted Cruz, which directs the President of the United States to impose sanctions on «any officer of the entity established for or responsible for the planning, construction, or operation» of the pipeline, as well as such entity itself.
The United States predicted the «disappearance» of Ukraine due to Nord Stream 2 «The imposition of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 now, at this critical moment, will have the opposite effect of containing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. It may even become a pretext which Putin is looking for. We now know that Putin wants Nord Stream 2 to be put into operation,» Menendez said ahead of the vote. He added that the new German government months separate.
Borrell spoke about Nord Stream 2 certification «Now is not the time to take such a powerful lever of influence off the table,» added Menendez. He warned that the sanctions demanded by Cruz would reverberate on German companies and citizens, sparking tensions among transatlantic allies. Menendez himself on the eve presented a draft of unprecedented sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy, top officials of the state, as well as Nord Stream 2 in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Russia rejects the aggressive plans attributed to it by the West against a neighboring country.
Lavrov: the situation with Nord Stream 2 showed Germany's dependence on the United States
