One of the key points out of the crisis with Russia is the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on France Inter radio station.
The US President Joe Biden earlier threatened to stop the project if the situation around Ukraine escalated.
“It is not the United States that will face the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine, but the Europeans, in terms of electricity prices. The opening of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is one of the key points in the negotiations and, undoubtedly, one of the key points for overcoming the crisis with Russia,” said the French official.
He stressed that the issue of launching the gas pipeline is strategic for both Russia and Europe.
In recent months, the Western media have been increasingly reporting on Moscow’s preparations for an “invasion” of Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly refuted such accusations and emphasized that they are being used as a pretext for building up NATO contingents in the border regions.
Nord Stream-2 is a new export gas pipeline with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year from Russia to Europe. Now the process of certification of Nord Stream 2 (the sole shareholder is Gazprom) as the main operator of the pipe is underway; the process is suspended pending the necessary documentation. When the regulator makes a draft decision, the opinion of the European Commission will be required, which intends to form a conclusion after consultations with Ukraine.
Against this background, gas prices in the European market have increased several times compared to the summer. The authorities of European countries have repeatedly accused Russia of provoking the energy crisis. Vladimir Putin called these statements nonsense. He recalled that he offered Brussels to leave long-term contracts for the supply of raw materials, but the European Commission insisted on market pricing, which ultimately led to a crisis.