Biden and Scholz halt Russian gas pipeline
JOE Biden and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz have worked together to block certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bringing gas from Russia in the light of Putin’s decision to order tanks into eastern Ukraine.
The US president said the measures were only the “first tranche” and he would “escalate sanctions if Russia escalates”.
Mr Biden announced heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs, and added: “Because of Russia’s actions we have worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.”
He said: “As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well. Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.”
Resistance
It comes after Mr Scholz announced earlier in the day: “The situation has fundamentally changed.”
Mr Scholz’s remarks came shortly after Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, demanded Nord Stream 2 be taken offline completely as part of a package of sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for its belligerent behaviour.
Nord Stream 2, which runs under the Baltic Sea from Vyborg to Lubmin, is designed to double the amount of gas flowing from Russia straight to Germany, bypassing Ukraine in the process.
The controversial project has faced resistance in the European Union, from the US and Ukraine because it increases Europe’s energy dependence on Russia, as well as denying Ukraine any transit fees and making it more vulnerable to Russian invasion.
No 10 said the Prime Minister believes it is right to “snip the feed of Nord Stream from our bloodstream”. Asked if Boris Johnson was pleased by the move, his spokesman said: “Yes. I think this has been something the Prime Minister has been calling for, for some time.”