U.S. not ruling out sanctions against Nord Stream 2 - State Department

The United States is interested in maintaining Europe's collective energy security and reserves the right to impose sanctions on those who seek to complete or certify Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, a State Department spokesperson has said in response to an information request from an Ukrinform correspondent.
"As President [Joe] Biden made clear, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a bad deal," the spokesperson said, when asked to comment on reports in Western media outlets that sanctions against Nord Stream 2 might be lifted.

According to the response, the United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners "to ensure Europe has a reliable, diversified energy supply network that does not undermine collective security."

"We will monitor activity to complete or certify the pipeline and, if such activity takes place, make a determination on the applicability of sanctions," the spokesperson said.

German-language business newspaper Handelsblatt reported on February 1 that the U.S. government had signaled its readiness to discuss the possible lifting of U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2. The newspaper referred to a U.S. official who said the Germans have to offer package solutions to protect Europe's energy security and Ukraine's interests.