“It sounds technical, but an administrative step is necessary and then there can be no certification of the pipeline, and without certification Nord Stream 2 cannot start operations“said Sholz, who stated that there could be “other sanctions” against Russia although he also urged diplomatic efforts to “avoid a catastrophe”.
The pressure on the German chancellor to adopt a decision in this regard had been growing in recent weeks and the final trigger was Russia’s recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.
Among the countries most critical of Germany is United States, but Scholz had not yet made any promises in this regard. In his visits to Washington and Moscow, he avoided publicly linking the future of Nord Stream 2 to a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The gas pipeline, which connects Russian reserves with western Europe through the Baltic Sea, is now complete, but its operation was still pending operating certificates in Germany.
Germany’s decision comes at the height of the energy crisis and when Gazprom, the Russian company that controls it, is apparently rationing gas supplies to the European Union (EU).
Nord Stream 2 doubles the capacity of its predecessor and bypasses Ukraine, a traditional gas transit country. With him, Kiev not only loses income; it also becomes more vulnerable against Moscow, the newspaper El País recalled.
Source: Ambito
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