Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergei Nechaev expressed hope that the plans of the German authorities to cancel the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (SP-2) are temporary. He announced this on February 23.
“I think that Nord Stream [2]” is needed, first of all, for the energy security of Europe, both the population of Germany and Europe, and the economy, which requires resources, benefit from this. I would very much like to hope that this statement is a temporary measure and that prudence and pragmatism will ultimately prevail,” the Russian ambassador told reporters after laying wreaths at the memorial to Soviet fallen soldiers in Berlin.
Earlier, the German government stated that SP-2 is a commercial, purely economic project that is in no way connected with political events, Nechaev stressed.
“Now this position, apparently, is changing under the active pressure of our overseas colleagues,” he said.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the LPR and DPR. Against this background, the West again started talking about anti-Russian sanctions, including those related to SP-2.
So, on February 22, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer allowed the inclusion of NS-2 in the package of anti-Russian sanctions, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the country’s Ministry of Economy had received an order to stop the certification of the gas pipeline.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, in turn, noted that the Kremlin perceives the suspension of certification of the gas pipeline with regret. According to him, this project has nothing to do with politics and is intended to become “a stabilizing element for the gas market in Europe.”
The next day, German Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said that Nord Stream 2 could be completely stopped. He added that Berlin is coordinating with European and American partners.
The construction of SP-2 was completed on September 10, 2021. It was built from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea for the purpose of direct gas supplies to Europe. The EU countries mainly support the project and participate in its implementation. The Baltic States, Poland, the United States and Ukraine are opposed.
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