Status: 02/22/2022 12:24 p.m
Against the background of the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict, the German government is stopping the approval process for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline until further notice. This was announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The controversial natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 will not go into operation for the time being. In view of the recent moves by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine, the German government has decided to put the project on hold for the time being. This was announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a press conference.
In view of the latest developments, the situation had to be reassessed, Scholz justified the decision. He had asked the Federal Ministry of Economics to take the necessary administrative steps so that the gas pipeline could not be certified for the time being. “And without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation.”
Scholz said Putin had no support for his actions. The decision to recognize the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk violates international law and the Minsk Agreement. Putin is breaking with the United Nations Charter and “with all international agreements that the country has entered into over the past 50 years.” Scholz emphasized that the integrity and sovereignty of each country and the immovability of borders must be respected. Russia has “no support from the world community” for its actions. Scholz announced internationally coordinated sanctions for the course of the day.
Zelenskyj calls for a pipeline stop
The Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyj had previously called for the “immediate” stop of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea peline. In view of the “new aggressive action against Ukraine,” sanctions must be imposed immediately, Zelensky said in Kiev, referring to the recent escalation in the conflict with Russia. “These sanctions must include the complete halt to Nord Stream 2.”
The nearly completed pipeline that will transport Russian gas to Germany is highly controversial; The federal government sees all options on the table when it comes to sanctions against Russia, but has not yet made an explicit decision regarding Nord Stream 2. US President Joe Biden had declared that in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, such an approach would mean the end of the pipeline.