So that the flow does not erode

The US State Department again threatened the sanctions to Western firms participating in the construction of the North Stream 2 gas pipeline. This was late in the evening on Wednesday was reported by Reuters.

“We believe that the Nord Stream 2 completely undermines the energy security of Europe and its stability, since it provides Russia with another means of pressure on European countries, especially to Ukraine,” the department said. “Russia understands that this project is splitting Europe, and that is why it implements it.”

Investments in the construction of the gas pipeline from Russia were made by five Western companies: German Wintershall and Uniper, Austrian OMV, British-Niderland Shell and French Engie.

The State Department has already at least twice stated the possibility of penalties against Western companies participating in the construction of pipelines from Russia. However, at the end of June, the Ministry of Economy of Germany stated that Washington promised not to impose such sanctions. According to some reports, the withdrawal of pipelines from the threat of sanctions was discussed with the American administration by the Vice President of the European Commission Marosh Shefchovich.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said before the NATO summit in Brussels that the construction of the Northern Stream - 2turned Germany into "captive of Russia" , putting Berlin under "full control" of Moscow. “I must say that I consider it very unfortunate Germany to conclude large oil and gas transactions with Russia, while we seemed to be defending from Russia,” said the American leader of the Alliance Secretary General of Jens Stoltenberg. “We seem to try to protect ourselves from Russia, and Germany pays it billions of dollars. I suppose that this is completely inappropriate.”

The US President called on NATO allies to pay attention to this issue.

Trump's statement caused a sharp reaction of the German Chancellor Angel Merkel. She noticed that Germany is an independent state that independently makes decisions.

The construction of the Nord Stream - 2 began in Germany on May 3. Meanwhile, Ukraine is actively opposing the implementation of the project; It is supported by a number of Eastern European countries - NATO members and the European Union. In Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, they stated that the maintenance of gas transit through Ukraine was necessary to ensure not only energy security, but also political stability in the region.