Kremlin: Putin, Merkel confirm support of Nord Stream-2

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have confirmed their support of the Nord Stream-2 project, the Kremlin said in a statement on December 29 following a telephone conversation of Putin and Merkel.

“Gas cooperation issues were discussed. The attitude toward further support of the Nord Stream-2 project was confirmed. Progress in the negotiations to prolong transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine after January 1, 2020 was in focus,” the statement read.

On December 27, the U.S. Department of State said that all contractors of the Nord Stream-2 would avoid the American sanctions if they wind down all works on the pipeline until January 20.

“The United States will impose sanctions unless related parties immediately demonstrate good faith efforts to wind-down. Related parties need to finish wind-down within 30 days. Any company involved in Nord Stream 2 needs to look carefully at what that means for their operations,” the statement read.

“The U.S. position opposing Nord Stream 2 has been consistent across multiple administrations, as part of a longstanding practice to promote energy security through diversification of energy supplies by country of origin, path of delivery, and fuel types, including renewables. Anyone engaged in the energy trading business ought to do it under fair terms, which are transparent, and operate according to market principles,” the U.S. Department of State said.

The Nord Stream-2 project envisages construction of two lines of a natural gas pipeline with an annual capacity of up to 55 billion cubic meters, running from the Russian shore to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Russian gas giant Gazprom is implementing the project together with Germany’s E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, Austria’s OMV, and France’s Engie.

On December 21, the builder of the Nord Stream-2 suspended operations on the project due to the threat of U.S. sanctions and withdrew all its vessels engaged in laying the pipeline from the Baltic Sea after U.S. President Donald Trump had signed a defense budget envisaging spending on counteraction against Russia in various areas including sanctions against the Nord Stream-2.

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