Russia today criticizes the new US sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, saying that they are illegal and wrong.
According to Arabiya Net, this came after the US State Department announced, in a statement, yesterday, the imposition of sanctions against two Russian ships and a company linked to Russia because of their relationship to the implementation of a project Nord Stream 2, according to a report submitted by the US State Department to Congress for sanctions.
The US administration is sanctioning 8 people and designating 17 of their ships as prohibited property under the Energy Security Protection Act.
The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, criticized the sanctions, saying: Washington's attempts to continue dialogue with Moscow through sanctions are unacceptable and violate international law, citing Russian Tass Agency.
The ambassador noted that dialogue through sanctions was unacceptable and contrary to international law. We consider all attempts to obstruct Russian oil and gas exports to Europe as unfair competition that undermines free market principles.
We also categorically reject the accusations leveled against us about Russia's energy policy. Such statements issued by the US State Department demonstrate the US's disrespect for its allies who are willing to build long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation with our country. We've demonstrated in practice that we do. Trusted energy partners.
The United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which delivers Russian gas to Europe via Germany.
The project pipeline, which is capable of transporting 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year, extends more than 2,200 kilometers under the waters of the Baltic Sea, the same route that the project extends. Nord Stream 1, which was put into service in 2012.
The project, operated by the Russian giant Gazprom and valued at more than 10 billion euros, is jointly funded by 5 European groups in the energy sector (OMV, Engi, Wintershall DEA, Uniper and Shell).
The US president had given up obstructing the project, considering that it was too late and that it would be better to bet on an alliance with Germany in ensuring cooperation with it on other files.
