The undersea pipeline directly links Russian gas to Europe via Germany and has become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Moscow to deter further military moves against Ukraine.
HOW IS GERMANY BLOCKING THE PIPELINE?
But Scholz warned that Russia would face “severe consequences" and that sanctions must be ready ahead of time. Germany had agreed with the U.S. to act against Nord Stream 2 if Russia used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. Europe is a key market for Gazprom, whose sales support the Russian government budget. Europe needs gas because it's replacing decommissioned coal and nuclear plants before renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are sufficiently built up.The White House was in “close consultations with Germany" and welcomed their announcement, press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Tuesday.
In Congress, Republicans and Democrats — in a rare bit of agreement — have long objected to Nord Stream 2.No. Even before Scholz's move, regulators made clear the approval process could not be completed in the first half of the year. That means the pipeline was not going to help meet heating and electricity needs this winter as the continent faces a gas shortage.
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