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Russia decries US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 5:15 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 21 October 2020 5:15 PM ]

The Russian pipe-laying vessel Akademik Cherskiy, which is involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, is moored in the port of Mukran on the island of Rugen, northeastern Germany, September 7, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

The Kremlin has decried Washington’s sanctions against the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project as ‘unfriendly and destructive.’

Russia has two projects to send natural gas to Europe, namely the Nord Steam 2, which will send Russian natural gas to Germany, and the Turk Stream 2 pipeline, which will supply Western Europe with energy.

The Nord Steam 2 will deliver Russian gas via the Baltic Sea, bypassing Poland and Ukraine. The Turk Stream 2 will carry gas through Bulgaria.

On Tuesday, Washington imposed new sanctions against the Nord Stream 2, targeting businesses that provide services or funds to upgrade or install equipment on ships that are being used to lay the pipeline.

“In general, this is quite an unfriendly and destructive policy of constant introduction of different restrictions against us, our economic operators and our economy,” Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

He noted that the sanctions are an integral part of Washington’s “overt raider competition policy,” amid its plans to boost sales of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.

Peskov warned that the sanctions damage bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington.

The construction of the 1,230-km Nord Stream 2 pipeline is almost complete.

Russia had to dispatch its own vessels after Swiss-based company Allseas, which has been laying the pipeline, suspended operations in December last year because of the US sanctions targeting companies providing vessels.

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