Germany puts a stop to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline TVNOVINY.sk – TVNOVINY.sk

This was announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday that it was suspending the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in response to Russia’s recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine and sending troops there. TASR took over the report from AFP.

Scholz said he had called for the German regulatory authority to stop the project review process. “It sounds technical, but it is a necessary administrative step, so the pipeline cannot be certified and without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot start operating,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the Western Allies to take a firm stance against Russia. This is reported by the British news television Sky News. According to AFP Zelensky, during a press conference on Tuesday, he called along with the Estonian president for the complete shutdown of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“Russia must be punished for recognizing two separatist-dominated regions of Ukraine on Monday. These must be immediate sanctions, which will include the complete cessation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, “said the Ukrainian president. According to Sky News, the possible inclusion of the Nord Stream 2 project in the package of European sanctions against Russia is “controversial”, as some key “European players”, including Germany, rely heavily on Russian gas supplies.

However, some European politicians and experts accuse Russia of using its natural resources as a political tool. The pipeline would double the volume of natural gas that Russia supplies to Europe annually through the existing North Stream 1 pipeline. However, both pipelines are designed to avoid Ukraine.