US and Germany seek Nord Stream 2 accord

摘要

GERMANY and the US are formu-lating a joint stance on the con-troversial Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline ahead of German elections on 26 September. A key consideration for the two administrations is the future role of Ukraine in han-dling gas transits to continental Europe from Russia once the pipeline project in the Baltic Sea is complete. Nord Stream 2, led by Russian state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom, has already attracted sanctions from the US over its perceived importance to the Kremlin in terms of providing revenues. Russia has been under sanc-tions over its 2014 annexation of the Crimea Peninsula from Ukraine. Speaking to reporters last week, the German Minister for Economic Affairs & Energy, Peter Altmaier, confirmed that Berlin and Washington are "committed to reaching a solution by August" on Nord Stream 2.