The US on Thursday threatened to halt the opening of a major natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany if Moscow launched military action against Ukraine.
Germany had worked to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline despite criticism from the US and eastern European states. Nord Stream 2 will more than double supply of Russian natural gas to Germany.
Construction of Nord Stream 2 was completed in September last year, but the pipeline requires testing and regulatory approval.
Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, was quoted by AFP as saying, “If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward. I think the statements coming out of Berlin even today are very, very strong.”
US State Department spokesman Ned Price told NPR the US would work with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 “does not move forward”.
Germany has also hinted at measures targeting Nord Stream 2. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told parliament her government as “working on a strong package of sanctions” alongside allies that would include Nord Stream 2, AFP reported.
Germany's ambassador to the US, Emily Haber, tweeted on Wednesday “nothing will be off the table, including Nord Stream 2” if Russia violated “Ukraine's sovereignty”.
The BBC reported, “The 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline took five years to build and cost $11bn (£8bn). The energy project, which would run under the Baltic Sea, is designed to double Russia's gas exports to Germany.”
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Earlier on Thursday, US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and said his administration was considering economic support above the $650 million in military assistance extended over the past year. Biden also reiterated that the threat of Russian military action persisted.
“President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February,” National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne told AFP.
