US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline a 'competitive ploy': Russia

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on December 3 dismissed United States’ sanctions on construction of rd Stream 2 pipeline, calling it a manifestation of "unfair competition that contricts principles of international tre and laws.” In an official statement, Moscow stressed that it will “protect Russia’s interests and interests of international commercial projects” in response to US State Department’s extension of sanctions to Russia’s rd Stream 2 and TurkStream project under Countering America's versaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). 

company, assigned to le project for construction of  controversial rd Stream 2 pipeline in Baltic Sea despite US’ pressure to halt use of resources for coercive purposes told news ncy DPA that project is set to resume next week. firm anunced in first week of December that Russia ordered resumption of German-Russian pipeline work after Germany tended strong support to push project ahe.

1,230-kilometer (764-mile) pipeline construction was halted for over a year. project is aimed to fetch natural gas from Russia's Siberian gas fields to Germany. Germany's European partners, however, expressed condemnation about project, saying, that pipeline would make Europe’s biggest ecomy heavily dependent on Russia for energy supply. pipeline, once completed, will transport 55 billion cubic meters (1,942 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas annually. 

US officials h proposed 30 days deline to Moscow to wind down operations on controversial energy infrastructure project, however, Moscow berated US of a “competitive ploy” to disrupt Russia’s interest and bolster US energy exports into European market. Shortly after US State Department’s expansion of sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused US ministration of “hostile moves”, and deploying “unfriendly and destructive policies of embargo” against nations in an attempt to take over markets. 

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Halted work at Danish island of Bornholm 

Moscow’s project rd Stream 2 would replace Ukraine’s current gas transit pipeline network, which, US fears would weaken Ukraine’s strategic importance with a switch in transit roles. US threatened  companies involved in final installation under interpretation of Congress' Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of 2019 that prohibits vessels from laying pipe at almost 100 feet below sea level for rd Stream 2 or TurkStream projects. construction work, which was halted suddenly in December 2019 near Danish island of Bornholm will resume, according to Moscow’s statement.

project was stalled after US warned at least two Swiss vessels laying pipeline of 'tre sanctions'. Furrmore, United States Senate approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifying annual budget and expenditures of US Department of Defense for 2020 fiscal year that obliged Trump ministration to impose sanctions on Russian rd Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. anuncement about resumption of project was me official by Germany's state brocaster rddeutscher Rundfunk, followed by a confirmation from Baltic Sea Waterways and Shipping Office in Stralsund.  According to Russia's state-run TASS, construction of pipeline is 93 percent done, and Gazprom’s he of investor relations, Anton Demchenko told its sources that Russia aims to complete  project by late 2020 or early 2021.

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