UPDATE: Naftogaz Ukrainy calls for US sanctions on Nord Stream-2

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MOSCOW/LONDON Jun 20 (PRIME) -- Andrei Kobolev, CEO of state energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy, has called on the U.S. administration to introduce sanctions against all companies that may potentially be involved in construction of Russia-led Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Kobolev said that the project also contradicts interests of the U.S. and threatens Europe’s solidarity.

The U.S. Senate on June 15 overwhelmingly voted for a bill on sanctions against Iran and Russia. The sanctions against Russian banks reduce loan terms to 14 days from 90 days earlier.

The sanctions against energy companies limit the term of financing or other deals to 30 days. The document also says that the U.S. president can introduce sanctions on people who plan to invest more than U.S. $5 million per year or $1 million in a single payment in construction of Russian export pipelines.

Also on June 15, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern said in a joint statement that they see the extension of U.S. sanctions against the Russian energy industry as a threat to European companies that partake in development of energy supplies to Europe. On June 16, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that chancellor Angela Merkel shared the view that the new sanctions are a matter of concern.

Andrei Kostin, CEO of Russia’s second largest bank VTB, said separately that the possible toughening of the U.S. sanctions will not have a significant impact on the business of VTB and the Russian financial market in general.

“It does not matter it all whether it is 30 or 14 days. I even think that we will be able to raise our credit portfolio if they cut financing of some companies. We are yet unable to fully analyze the impact of these sanctions,” he said.

He added he saw no possible damage to the Russian financial industry from the new measures.

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