The US is trying to halt the Russian pipeline that will bypass Ukraine to deliver natural gas to Europe
Timothy Gardner and Humeyra PamukWashington — US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Wednesday warned investors in two Russian natural gas pipeline projects that they could face sanctions as the Trump administration seeks to curb the Kremlin's economic leverage over Europe and Turkey.
“It's a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia's malign influence projects will not be tolerated. Get out now, or risk, the consequences,” Pompeo said. Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said sanctions on the two pipelines equated to political pressure, Tass news agency reported.“This is the use of political pressure for unfair competition,” Zakharova said. “It is an indicator of the weakness of the American system. Apart from forceful methods, there are no effective tools.”
Two Russian-owned pipe-laying vessels may finish the remaining 160km of the project, led by Russia state-run company Gazprom. Gazprom is financing half of the project worth about €9.5bn.In June, a bipartisan group of US senators led by Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and Ted Cruz, a Republican, introduced a sanctions bill on Nord Stream 2.
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