Nord Stream 2 to be halted in case of more troubles in Ukraine

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (PRIME) -- The U.S. and Germany have agreed to halt the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in case of escalation on the Ukrainian borders, Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said at a daily briefing late on Thursday.

"With regard to Nord Stream 2, we continue to have very strong and clear conversations with our German allies, and I want to be clear with you today. If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward," Nuland said.

She said that Berlin's statements which might signal to reluctance to introduce the sanctions contradict an agreement signed in July. "Well, first of all, I would say go back and read the document that we signed in July that made it very clear about the consequences for the pipeline if there is further aggression on Ukraine by Russia," Nuland said.

The 55 billion cubic meter Nord Stream 2 pipeline was built in September 2021. Both threads of the pipe were filled with technical gas and the pipeline is ready for operation.

The German Federal Network Agency halted its certification in November saying the operator has to create a subsidiary in Germany and reapply for certification as an operator on its behalf as required by the European law. The subsidiary was established on Wednesday.

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