Sanctions against the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, which German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock did not rule out, would significantly harm Germany itself, said Steffen Kotre, a representative of the Alternative for Germany party, a member of the parliamentary committee on energy and climate protection.
Earlier, Baerbock said that Berlin was ready to stop Nord Stream-2 in the event of a Russian “military invasion” of Ukraine. According to her, the sanctions could become “unprecedented, coordinated and prepared with all partners.”
“The government and politicians are ready to pay a “high price”. Sanctions or even stopping Nord Stream-2 would be detrimental to Germany itself. In addition, such rhetoric damages our important relationship with Russia enormously. Citizens of the republic in this case would pay for the interests of others. The majority of Germans, as polls show, are against Ukraine’s membership in NATO,” Kotre said in an interview with TASS.
The construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline from the coast of Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea was completed on September 10, 2021. In November, the German Federal Grid Agency suspended the certification of Nord Stream-2 AG until the transfer of the main assets and resources of the subsidiary in accordance with the requirements of the regulator takes place.