US Secretary of State in Berlin Solution to pipeline dispute by August?

Status: 23.06.2021 13:57

During his inaugural visit to Berlin, US Secretary of State Blinken demonstrated unity with his counterpart Maas. In the dispute over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, an agreement is expected soon. The German government wants to find a solution to the transatlantic dispute over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by August. This was announced by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Chancellor’s trip to Washington in mid-July would certainly also be a suitable date, said Maas. But in August the US Congress will again deal with possible sanctions. “It is extremely important to us to achieve results that can also be supported in Washington,” emphasized the SPD politician.

USA: Nord Stream 2 is “Russia’s geopolitical project”

Blinken warned that Russia could use energy to leverage Ukraine. “Our goal is to ensure that Russia does not use energy as a means of coercion, as a weapon against Ukraine or anyone else in Europe,” said the US Secretary of State, who told his counterpart Maas in the run-up to the second Libya conference met in Berlin. The US continues to believe that the pipeline is a geopolitical project by Russia that threatens Europe’s energy security. In view of the difference of opinion between Washington and Berlin on this point, Blinken emphasized: “It happens from time to time among friends.”

05/26/2021

Biden to Nord Stream 2 “Would be sanctions counterproductive been”

US President Biden has explained why his government has refrained from imposing new Nord Stream 2 sanctions.

USA waived sanctions

For years, the US has been against the construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline, which is supposed to pump gas from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine. Nevertheless, in May the new administration of US President Joe Biden partially gave up its longstanding resistance to the project and waived sanctions against the operating company – also out of consideration for relations with Germany.

Since then, talks have been going on between Germany and the USA about how to proceed. In essence, it is about how Ukraine, as a previous transit country, can secure long-term income, since it is dependent on Russian billions for gas transfers. The corresponding contract between Russia and Ukraine is limited to 2024