Gas pipeline "Nord Stream-2" is unlikely to work if Russia resumes its aggression against Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said this in an interview with the American TV channel NBC on Sunday, writes UNN.
"Through this pipeline, ... now the gas is not coming. And in fact, it's a source of pressure on Russia because of the extent to which President Putin wants to see gas flow through that pipeline," Blinken said, responding to a question regarding Nord Stream 2.
"If and when it starts working - it's very unlikely or hard to imagine if Russia resumes its aggression against Ukraine, if it takes action again. So I think President Putin should also consider that when he's thinking about what he's going to do next," the U.S. Secretary of State said.
Earlier, Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated about the consequences for the Nord Stream-2 pipeline in case of Russian troops' invasion of Ukraine.
Construction of the 1,234 km (2,468 km in two strands) long pipeline from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea has been completed and it is technically ready to pump Russian gas to Europe, but the gas is not yet flowing. Recently, the German Federal Network Agency has suspended the required certification procedure for the gas pipeline until the establishment of the subsidiary of the Swiss Nord Stream 2 AG to operate the national section of the pipeline and transfer its main assets and human resources to it has been completed.
Meanwhile, soaring energy prices combined with under-delivery have prompted accusations from European officials that Russia is restricting supplies to pressure authorities to certify the new pipeline. In particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to increase gas supplies, saying that Nord Stream 2 could be launched "the day after" such approval.
