The Russian government is sure that the launch of Nord Stream 2 will be a new milestone in the history of the country's gas industry. Local media keeps on writing about the imminent completion of the project and praises the authorities for their successful work. However, things are not as good as they may seem.
To start with, this project has become a household name for a problem. Few people can remember now when it was supposed to be launched due to constant delays. The deadlines have been shifted because of the lack of technical equipment and US sanctions. Unfortunately, Russia is unable to lay several hundred kilometers of pipes by itself. Foreign companies, dreading sanctions from Washington, refuse to cooperate with Russia. Only Germany, which still depends on Russian gas, supports the Nord Stream 2 project. Berlin is making good use of its position in this energy dispute with the US. Depending on the situation, it shows its willingness to cooperate or changes its mind whenever it finds it appropriate. For instance, when the United States starts talking about raising tariffs or withdrawing the military troops, Germany changes its rhetoric in favor of Nord Stream 2. Not long ago, the US took a more aggressive stance on Germany as the country continued to help build the pipeline. "Questions of European energy policy must be decided in Europe, not in the US. The US administration is disrespecting Europe’s right and sovereignty to decide itself where and how we source our energy,” Heiko Maas, Germany’s foreign minister, said.
The White House did not stand aside and threatened to impose tougher sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. "These sanctions include potentially fatal measures that will cut off Fährhafen Sassnitz GmbH from the United States commercially and financially," Senate officials said.
