‘Groundless’: China condemns US sanctions against Nord Stream 2
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has slammed the United States for imposing new sanctions on Russia over its sprawling undersea pipeline project, transferring Russian gas to Europe.
The ministry criticized the US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 as a "groundless" move that violates international law.
Washington claims that the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will increase Europe’s dependency on Moscow to supply its energy resources.
On Friday, it announced a number of sanctions against two Russian companies and two vessels for their involvement in the gas project.
Moscow, in contrast, sees the fruition of the gas project as a safe and reliable star business venture that would benefit both sides.
"We see the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as an entirely commercial, mutually advantageous project," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the Kremlin sees punitive moves by Washington as an unwillingness to broaden ties and create partnerships between the two nations.
Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, also condemned US sanctions on Nord Stream 2, saying such measures were against international law.
The $11 billion project, which will double the existing pipeline across the Baltic Sea and allow Russia to bypass Ukraine when sending gas to Europe, has been a bone of contention between the US and Russia.
Nord Stream 2 will carry Russian gas directly to Germany.
Last month, the pipeline operator said despite US sanctions the project had been 99 percent completed.
The joint project has ruined Washington’s plans to boost its sales of seaborne liquefied natural gas to Europe.
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