According to US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, now the question is not in the physical completion of Nord Stream-2, but in its commissioning, as well as in the behavior of the Russian Federation and Gazprom after the launch of the gas pipeline.
According to channel 112 Ukraine, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent explained why the administration of US President Joe Biden decided to release the main company responsible for the operation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Nord Stream-2 AG, from sanctions.
“It was to leave room for diplomacy. We clarified our expectations – that Germany needs to do the right thing, be the leader of Europe that it is, and take action to make sure Russia does not use its energy as a weapon”, – Kent told Voice of America.
He added that both President Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken consider Nord Stream 2 a bad project.
“Now the question is not in the physical completion of the gas pipeline, but in putting it into operation, and what Gazprom and Russia can do if it is certified and starts working”, – the diplomat said, noting that, by law, the US sanctions lists are updated every 90 days.