Skvernelis nord stream 2

The German government offered the Trump administration financial support of up to €1 billion ($1.21 billion) in a bid to prevent Washington from imposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, according to documents published by the non-profit Environmental Action Germany (DUH) Tuesday. The controversial pipeline, which is nearing completion , would double the amount of natural gas delivered annually from Russia to Germany. What did Germany allegedly offer? The DUH published a personal letter from German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to former US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Scholz allegedly offered funding for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US. In return, the US was asked to allow the "unhindered construction and operation of Nord Stream 2." "The German government is willing to massively increase its public support for the construction of LNG terminals along the German coastline ... by providing up to €1 billion," the letter stated. "Future … [Read more...] about Germany offered US ‘dirty deal’ to drop Nord Stream 2 sanctions

Ukraine's ambassador to Berlin on Tuesday slammed "questionable historical arguments" made by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Andriy Melnyk's reaction came as officials from Ukraine and many other European countries have grown increasingly frustrated with the German government's insistence on completing the project and effectively doubling the amount of gas that Germany imports from Russia. In an interview with the German newspaper Rheinische Post, Steinmeier defended the pipeline by saying that fuel sales were "one of the last bridges between Russia and Europe." "I believe that burning bridges is not a sign of strength," Steinmeier said.  "For us Germans, there is another dimension," the president said, noting that June will mark 80 years since the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. He said 20 million Soviet citizens were killed in World War II. "There have been phases of fruitful partnership, but even more … [Read more...] about Germany’s Steinmeier angers Kyiv with his comments on Nord Stream, WWII

At least 18 European companies have either terminated their participation in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline or have pledged to withdraw from the project, over US sanctions threats, according to a US State Department report for Congress. "This shows that the legislative goals and our actions have been successful," US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "We continue to monitor companies involved in potentially sanctionable acts." The State Department submitted a report on the pipeline to Congress on Friday, in a document which has not yet been publicly released. The US has threatened sanctions against several other companies involved in the construction and certification of the roughly 1,200-kilometer (roughly 750-mile) pipeline. Watch video 04:36 Share Germany: Conflicts over Nord Stream 2 reignited Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink … [Read more...] about European companies back out of Nord Stream 2: US report

Germany Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Germany's reaction to the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny should not be linked to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, in an interview with a German daily published on Sunday. "Business relationships and business projects that have existed for decades are one thing and serious human rights violations and our reactions to them are another," Altmaier told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Altmaier's statement follows a remark on Friday by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who also warned against linking the two issues. It comes after Russia expelled German and European other diplomats, accusing them of taking part in 'illegal' protests against the jailing of Navalny. Watch video 01:35 Share Work resumes on Nord Stream 2 Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3nwyJ After … [Read more...] about German minister: Don’t link Navalny with Nord Stream 2

New, targeted EU sanctions against the Kremlin could have an impact on the Russian leadership, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told DW. Nauseda's comments came as EU foreign ministers are seeking to draft an agreement on measures against Moscow following the sentencing of dissident Alexei Navalny . He said the bloc's sanctions applied on Russia over its role in the Ukraine conflict and the annexation of Crimea were no longer enough. "The sanctions, which were imposed against Russia in 2014, had the impact on the Russian economy and they were painful," said Nauseda. "Maybe this is the reason why Russian authorities are so nervous recently if we talk about the relations of the European Union and Russia. Sanctions have the impact, but this impact probably so far is not sufficient." Nauseda explained that the EU's size and differing national perspectives meant that it was difficult to agree on a common approach. Watch video 03:02 Share EU/Russia … [Read more...] about Lithuanian president: Russia sanctions ‘not sufficient’ so far