Blinken says halt of sanctions vs Nord Stream 2 AG in US interests

WASHINGTON, May 20 (PRIME) -- Suspending sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of Russia’s Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project, is in line with the U.S.’ interests, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday.

“Today, the Department of State submitted a report to Congress pursuant to the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act (PEESA), as amended, listing four vessels, five entities, and one individual involved in construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, including Nord Stream 2 AG and the company’s CEO Matthias Warnig. Persons identified in the report are subject to sanctions pursuant to PEESA unless waived,” the statement read.

“I have determined that it is in the national interest of the United States to waive the application of sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, its CEO Matthias Warnig, and Nord Stream 2 AG’s corporate officers,” the statement read.

The U.S. administration will continue to oppose the completion of the project as it can weaken European energy security, Blinken also said.

CBS News correspondent Eena Ruffini uploaded to her Twitter page a copy of the report to Congress, allegedly received from a source in Congress, which names four pipe-laying vessels and four organizations that are to be sanctioned over the construction of the Nord Stream-2 facility.

The vessels are the Yury Topchet, Vladislav Strimov, Baltiysky Issledovatel and Akademik Chersky, and the organizations are Koksokhimtrans, Mortransservice, Federal State Budgetary Institution Marine Rescue Service, and Samara Heat and Energy Property Fund.

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