Germany signals tougher stance on contentious gas pipeline amid Russia's row with Ukraine

Germany, which has opted for a differing 'pro-Russia' tone drifting away from now divided NATO alliance on Russia-Ukraine crisis said on Thursday that "nothing will be off table" if it comes down to threat of Russian invasion and overall security of European Union. German ambassor to US Emily Haber tweeted: "Nothing will be off table, including Nord Stream 2" if Russia violated Ukraine's sovereignty, indicating that Germany will align with NATO's goals. Her remarks were me in context to US threats of axing  key pipeline that supplies Russian gas throughout Western Europe. “If Russia inves Ukraine one way or anor, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told NPR. 

Germany has become one of 'weak links' in Russian-Ukrainian conflict owing to its WWII history with former Soviet Union. mitting to seriousness of issue, US President Joe Biden h told a briefing: “re are differences in NATO as to what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens.” While both United States and Britain have sent military weapons to Ukraine, and NATO countries like Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia have sought to help ir Ukrainian counterpart with US manufactured arms, Germany me every attempt to block an armed conflict from escalating with Russia's Putin as it blocked Estonia's arms export to Kyiv. 

During a talk on subject of Germany's stance with America's NPR, Price reassured that US "will work with Germany to ensure it [gas pipeline] does not move forward." He sent a dire warning to Russian leer Vlimir Putin, reiterating that Biden ministration will choke opening of pipeline completely, and cut off energy supply, ding that US will hold talks and "convince Germany" to impose sanctions. US State Department spokesperson, though, did not get into details of how that would be done. ”I’m not going to get into specifics,” Price said, refusing to divulge any furr details. 

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, meanwhile in a positive step notified parliament that Western allies [US] were "working on a strong package of sanctions” that includes Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Germany, though is bound by US agreement signed by former Chancellor Angela Merkel that empowers United States to cut off pipeline and slap "sanctions" if gas is "used as a weapon”. As she was set to leave office after 16 years in power, Merkel h told press that  agreement with US is Germany’s commitment to Ukraine's security, and is "binding on future German governments." 

Nord Stream 2 'a dangerous geopolitical weapon'

This wouldn’t be first time that Washington has threatened to stop 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline project that directly transports Russian gas to Germany under Baltic Sea. former Trump ministration h criticised project, asserting that will grow Russian influence in region. EU receives 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year. Germany’s own domestic production has been in perennial decline for past dece, and only or supplier Nerlands has h problems due to Groningen field. 

“We’re protecting Germany from Russia and Russia is getting billions and billions of dollars from Germany,” Trump h lambasted Berlin during his presidency speaking alongside Poland President Andrzej Duda at White House. US, Eastern European, Nordic and Baltic Sea countries see Nord Stream 2 as economic grip of Russia on Europe like Germany, largest European economy needs stey gas supplies to we off coal and nuclear power as source of energy. 

On several occasions, Trump h threatened to impose sanctions on $12-billion gas pipeline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously labelled pipeline as a "dangerous geopolitical weapon.” "We view this project exclusively through prism of security and consider it a dangerous geopolitical weapon of Kremlin," Zelensky h warned at a conference alongside n German Chancellor Angela Merkel. pipeline will be dangerous "for all of Europe” he h stressed, ding that pipeline "will only play into hands of Russian Federation” and main risks will be borne by Ukraine. project is yet to begin as currently, it does not comply with German laws as per regulators. But when operational, controversial energy project is expected to double gas flow in Germany.