Russia is signaling to Europe that it will not offer increased gas supplies if the European regulator does not approve the launch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
That's what Bloomberg writes, citing sources close to Gazprom and the Kremlin.
The newspaper's sources say that in exchange for increased supplies, Russia wants permission from Germany and the European Union to start using the pipeline in Europe.
They believe that Russia will not act without strict guarantees that the pipeline will be allowed to work and at the same time we are only talking about gas supplies bypassing Ukraine.
To start supplying gas from Russia, the project needs certification as an independent transmission system operator.
Nord Stream 2 received an application for this certification from the German Federal Network Agency on 13 September. It is expected to be reviewed within four months.
Then the draft decision will be sent to the European Commission for review. Its conclusion should be ready after another two or four months.
