German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on 22 February that Germany is halting the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia. Scholz has announced that the approval process for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been halted, in response to Russia's incursion into Ukraine. Describing Russia's actions as a "grave breach of international law", Mr Scholz said his government had blocked the approval process and the pipeline would not be allowed to go into operation. The decision ends weeks of ambiguity over whether Scholz was prepared to block the {EUR}9.5 billion (￡8 billion) pipeline in the event of Russian aggression. The USA has repeatedly warned that the pipeline would be stopped if Russia invades, a position publicly backed by the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock.
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