UPDATE2: Kremlin says aware of Nord Stream-2 politicization risks

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MOSCOW, Dec 5 (PRIME) -- The Kremlin is aware of risks associated with the politicization of Russia-led Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project, the president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

“The risks associated with the politicization of the Nord Stream-2, the risks associated with open manifestations of unfair competition from third countries in relation to the Nord Stream-2, exist. We see them well and are aware of this,” he said.

He said that “these risks did not appear today or yesterday, but already quite a long time ago, and we all witness the manifestation of these risks.”

A senior official at the U.S. Department of State said late Tuesday that a recent incident in the Kerch Strait should force the E.U. to abandon the Nord Stream-2 project.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said he believes that halting the Nord Stream-2 project would be the best sanction against Russia, online newspaper Yevropeiskaya Pravda (European Truth) reported.

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 will implement the project together with Germany’s E.ON and BASF, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, and Engie.

President of Austria’s National Council Wolfgang Sobotka said that Vienna is interested in the Nord Stream-2 project.

“We are interested in the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project in order to strengthen stability and security of the E.U.,” he told the State Duma, the Russian parliament’s lower house.

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