In the struggle for the completion of the Baltic Sea pipeline „Nord Stream 2“, Russia accused the USA of illegal and aggressive behavior. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow responded to US demands on the German government to prevent the construction of the almost completed billion-euro project.
The call by the executive US ambassador in Berlin, Robin Quinville, was „political aggression and illegal resistance“ against the gas pipeline, Ministry spokeswoman Maria Sakharova wrote on Facebook.
Due to US sanctions, the construction of „Nord Stream 2“ was stopped a year ago. Further US sanctions are now looming. The German government supports the construction of the line.
Russia wants to complete the line itself
For decades, the US tried to prevent Russian lines regardless of valid treaties, criticized Sakharova. She urged Washington to abide by international rules. The diplomat Quinville had told the „Handelsblatt“ (Saturday edition): „Now is the time for Germany and the EU to impose a moratorium on the construction of the pipeline.“
That would send a clear signal that Europe “will no longer accept Russia’s persistent malicious behavior”. The pipeline is not just an economic project, but the Kremlin’s political tool to bypass Ukraine and divide Europe.
After the withdrawal of Western special ships because of the US sanctions, Russia wants to finish the line itself, as Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin had emphasized. Russia is using its own ships for this, which, according to radar, could be seen today near the German-Danish sea border.
OMV is involved
The pipeline, which costs around 9.5 billion euros, is 94 percent ready. In the future, 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be pumped from Russia to Germany every year through the two pipelines of „Nord Stream 2“, each around 1,200 kilometers long.
The USA is against the project and justifies this with the fact that its European partners are too dependent on Russian gas. On the other hand, critics accuse the USA of only wanting to sell their liquid gas better in Europe. The Austrian oil and gas group OMV is also involved in the financing of “Nord Stream 2”.
