On Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the certification process for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that connects Russia and Germany will be suspended. The move is a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the breakaway republics in the Donbas and the deployment of Russian troops to the region.
“That sounds technical, but it is the necessary administrative step so there can be no certification of the pipeline and without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot begin operating,” Scholz said.
The German leader said Putin’s decision was “unjustified and incomprehensible” and called for a coordinated Western response. He said the German government will now reassess its energy needs. “The department of the German ministry of economics will reassess the security of our supply needs in light of what has taken place,” he said.
Germany relies on Russia for about 50 percent of its natural gas supply, and that number was set to increase once Nord Stream 2 was operational. The construction of the pipeline has already been completed, and the project is worth about $11 billion.
Ukraine, which stands to lose billions in natural gas transportation fees if the pipeline were to be approved, welcomed Scholz’s decision. “This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia “regrets” the German decision and hopes it is only temporary. “It is to be hoped that such projects are hindered only for some time, due to various political reasons. The way we see it, this is wrong anyway,” he said.
Nord Stream 2 has long been in the crosshairs of hawks in Washington who discourage the potential increase in trade between Russia and Europe that the pipeline would bring.
Good boy, Scholzi, good boy … sit … roll over … Some of you warned me it may end up this way but I thought Germans cared more for their independence and indeed common sense.
There is speculation that this is just for show and that, upon further energy resources review and once things settle down, Germany may decide to certify the pipeline after all since, making this decision ahead of any EU process, it remains their own decision to change it. But this hope and $5 will buy you a gallon of gas here in CA …
Yes such a good dog. A well trained lap dog.
What do you want to bet that the Germans were promised that the U.S. taxpayers would subsidize the additional costs of getting gas and oil from the U.S.?
The US does not have that much oil or gas to send. Yeah, the promises were likely made, but they were misinformed at best, manipulative cynical lies more likely.
Russia has already recovered the money it invested into NS2 with the higher oil/gas prices. Its Germany who will have to get used to higher prices and the public pay more
No, it will be the American taxpayers who will have to subsidize the higher costs of transporting oil and gas to Germany. That’s why Germany agreed to end Nordstream II.
Has this been verified?
The money largely came from German and EU banks. Don’t expect Russia to go out of pocket to pay them back.
Morons.
I guess Germans want to freeze the rest of winter and spring this year…!
“Ukraine, which stands to lose billions in natural gas transportation
fees if the pipeline were to be approved, welcomed Scholz’s decision.”
Is the key take-away. Ukraine would stand to lose that precious middle-man status
The German leader said Putin’s decision was “unjustified and incomprehensible”
The German leader is like some of our commentors here. He forgets what started the entire mess. 2014 will always be like 1953 henceforth.
Exactly!
When prices go up at the pump Scholz will change his tune. It’s still awfully cold in Europe, so warming up that pen might be a good idea.
We’ll see how that works when no gas flows through the Ukraine pipes, nor the Polish pipes either.
There is a lot of wishful thinking and willful failure to see.
I am sure the Courts in Germany are going to have an opinion on this, damages will be in the $$Billions.
Yeah,
Not buying the gas that you are already not buying from them is just a special kind of stupid.
Let’s the German freeze. Sooner or later they will scream at their own rediculous pro American puppet government.
I thought Merkel was bad. This guy is a complete idiot.
Scholz’s lips were moving, but the accent was American.
Congrats to the Germans and the rest of Europe for you will be paying for overpriced gas.