US plans to reduce 'threat' from 'Nord Stream 2'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will declare Washington's view that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline threatens European energy security during his upcoming trip to Europe, the US State Department said.
"You have seen that the administration's position remains very clear. Of course, we will emphasize our position that this threatens the energy security of Europe and Ukraine, that this is a project of geopolitical significance for the Russian Federation," the US State Department spokesperson said during a regular press briefing by phone.
Secretary of State Blinken will visit Europe from June 22-29, in Berlin he will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
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| Installation of gas pipeline in the Nord Stream 2 project. Photo: Ria Novosti |
According to the diplomat, Washington wants to ensure that Russia "will not use energy as a weapon against Ukraine and other countries." At the same time, he stressed that the position of the current US administration remains the same - that sanctions will not stop the construction of the pipeline.
“We will try to lobby Germany diplomatically to reduce the risks (from the pipeline),” he said.
According to the State Department spokesman, the US administration is ready to continue discussions in Berlin, as well as with Kiev, on gas pipelines and energy security.
Construction of “Nord Stream 2”
“Nord Stream 2” is being built from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea with the aim of supplying gas directly to Europe. EU countries mainly support and participate in the project. The Baltic countries, Poland, the US and Ukraine oppose it. Ukraine fears being cut off from the transit route of Russian gas through its territory. The US, on the other hand, hopes to bring its liquefied natural gas to supply the European market.
