Russia condemns US Pompeo’s calls for coalition against N Stream-2

MOSCOW, Sep 23 (PRIME) -- Russia condemns U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s calls for creation of a coalition against the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

“We condemn the calls for a coalition against the pipeline, in which German and other companies have already invested billions… The Secretary of State’s claims only demonstrate Washington’s real intentions to occupy the West European gas market using non-competitive tools,” she said.

On Monday, Pompeo said that the U.S. was building a coalition aimed at preventing the completion of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline that can substantially increase the flow of Russian gas into Europe.

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.

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