US President Joe Biden imposed sanctions against the operating company Nord Stream 2 and its management, which became known on Wednesday, February 23.
“Yesterday, after detailed consultations between our governments, Germany announced that it would stop certifying the pipeline. Today, I instructed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its officials. These steps are another part of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. As I have already made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
The American leader added that Russian President Vladimir Putin, by his actions, gave the world a powerful incentive to abandon Russian gas and switch to other forms of energy. He thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his close partnership and commitment to holding Russia accountable for its actions.
Biden noted Germany’s leadership in developing measures to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the event of an escalation of the situation in Ukraine by Russia.
On February 22, the owner of the White House announced the introduction of the first tranche of sanctions against Russia. He also announced the use of restrictions against the country’s sovereign debt.
On February 23, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that US sanctions against Russia would hit global financial and energy markets, and ordinary citizens would feel the consequences. He stressed that Russia has long adapted to the threats and sanctions of the Western world.
Such a reaction from the West was caused by the signing by Russian President Putin of decrees recognizing the independence of the LPR and DPR and treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. On February 22, the Russian leader signed federal laws on the ratification of friendship and cooperation treaties with the DPR and LPR.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the new Western sanctions against Russia illegitimate. The diplomat noted that Moscow has long understood that restrictions are the only tool of the West against the Russian Federation in order to restrain its development.
Earlier, on February 23, the German reinsurance company Munich Re announced the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 contract. The decision was made public back in February 2021. Then Munich Re stopped insurance of SP-2 against the backdrop of the threat of sanctions.
On February 22, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin regrets the suspension of the gas pipeline certification. According to him, this project has nothing to do with politics and is intended to become “a stabilizing element for the gas market in Europe.”
The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completed on September 10, 2021. It was built from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea for the purpose of direct gas supplies to Europe. The EU countries mainly support the project and participate in its implementation. The Baltic States, Poland, the United States and Ukraine are opposed.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
