Baerbock: Nord Stream 2 to be among sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

“We have made it clear that new military action against Ukraine will have massive consequences for Russia. On this basis, we develop a strong sanctions package. In case of new aggression, our response will be wide, including Nord Stream 2,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the debate on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict at the Bundestag on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Baerbock, it is necessary to promote the need for dialogue with Russia but, "given the current situation," it is also necessary to "be tough to make it clear that sovereign equality of the countries and the foundations of European peace cannot be negotiated."

"We live in a time that is crucial to peace and security on our continent. A time when we must stand up for our values… and it is difficult not to see it as a threat when more than 100,000 troops with tanks and artillery are amassed near Ukraine for no good reasons, and other troops have been deployed to Belarus," the German foreign minister said.

She noted that Kremlin's demands for so-called "security guarantees" contradict the foundations of security order in Europe. “The Russian government put forward demands for so-called ‘security guarantees’ which, however, run counter to the European security order. The [German] federal government responded clearly and decisively, in close coordination with our partners in the EU, NATO, and G7,” Baerbock said.

As reported, the construction of Nord Stream 2 was completed in early September 2021. The pipeline was built from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, under the Baltic Sea. The only shareholder in the project is Gazprom. In mid-November, the German Federal Network Agency suspended the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently stated that Nord Stream 2 would not work if Moscow continued its aggression against Ukraine.

Photo credit: dpa

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