Senators of the US Congress have declared their unwillingness to interfere with the talks between American leader Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, so the bill on sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline proposed by Republican Ted Cruise will not be approved. This was reported by the Politico edition with reference to the senators.
It is noted that some senators explain their reluctance to pass the bill by the fact that the pipeline is currently being used by the United States and its European partners, including Germany, as a lever of influence on Russia. It is about the position that the pipeline will not work if Putin moves to Ukraine.
“At the moment it is very important for us, as we are looking at the potential actions of Russia in Ukraine, to work closely with our allies, and Germany is one of these very important allies. And therefore, I think that the amendment is untimely, ”the publication quotes Senator Zhanna Shahin.
Thus, according to the publication, Cruz’s bill may not pass the required 60-vote threshold.
Earlier, on January 4, the newspaper Politico, citing its sources, reported that the Republicans in the US Senate were in favor of the adoption of the bill on sanctions.
At the same time, the interlocutors of the publication noted that the gas pipeline, which is almost completed and awaits certification, “adds an additional element of complexity and drama to a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Cruz’s bill obliges the Washington administration to impose sanctions on the pipeline within 15 days of its approval, and also allows Congress to vote to reimpose the restrictions if the American president decides to lift them.
Restrictions, according to the bill, will be introduced in relation to organizations responsible for the design, construction and operation of the gas pipeline, as well as in relation to a number of their employees. The sanctions include a ban on entry into the United States, as well as a freeze on assets in the United States and a ban on American citizens or companies from doing business with persons on the blacklist.
On December 19, it was reported that the US Senate would consider sanctions against Nord Stream 2 until January 14.
Washington has long opposed the project and has already imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2 several times, which, as experts pointed out, complicated relations with Germany, which supports the project.
The construction of SP-2 was completed on September 10. It was built from Russia to Germany along the Baltic seabed with the aim 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.
On December 16, Germany postponed a decision on certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline until at least mid-2022.
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.
