Germany continues negotiations with the United States on Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline connecting Russia and Western Europe. The allies cannot agree on the launch of the project in its current state. This is why they are discussing the creation of a mechanism for controlling it. If they fail to find a consensus, the pipeline launch may be canceled indefinitely.
"Nord Stream 2 is an issue, on which, as we repeatedly claimed, we hold negotiations with the United States. I can just say that these negotiations continue. This is an economic project; we spoke about its political issues many times before. The position is known," Steffen Seibert, the German government spokesperson, pinpointed.
Currently, representatives of the two countries are considering options that will allow them to block gas supplies through the pipeline without delay in the event that Russia once again begins to destabilize the situation in the region and exert pressure on Ukraine or other neighboring countries. This issue is being addressed by diplomats under the leadership of adviser to the German Chancellor Jan Hecker and Assistant to the US President for National Security Jake Sullivan. Sources familiar with the discussion report that Washington has proposed to study the possibility of imposing sanctions if Russia reduces gas transit through Ukraine by switching exports to Nord Stream 2.
Representatives of Germany informed the United States of their readiness to start negotiations with Russia on the extension of gas transit through Ukraine. The main goal of the negotiations is to reduce the geopolitical benefits for Moscow after the launch of the gas pipeline. The negotiators hope to reach a consensus on the main provisions of the agreements by the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the United States, which is scheduled for July.
