The White House is adamant its opposition to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline has been a long-held position despite lifting the sanctions and describing it as leverage against Russia.
The White House has been “clear” that it does not support Nord Stream 2 as “a Russian geopolitical project that undercuts the energy security and national security of a significant part of the Euro-Atlantic community,” according to press secretary Jen Psaki.
“That’s long been our position,” she told reporters Wednesday. “It’s not online, the pipeline. The German regulators have said it is not currently on track to be approved until at least the latter half of 2022, and we’ll continue to work with Germany, Ukraine, and other allies and partners to implement the July 21 joint statement.”
She added: “Again, if Russia invades Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will not come online.”
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Germany agreed last summer to help preserve Ukraine’s gas transit revenues if President Joe Biden lifted sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary wholly owned by Russian state company Gazprom. The agreement provides Ukraine with more time to become independent of the Kremlin, which transports gas through Ukraine instead of the 764-mile undersea pipeline. But the deal was controversial, even among Democrats.
Last December, national security adviser Jake Sullivan contended that Nord Stream 2 could be “leverage” against Russian President Vladimir Putin, deterring him from adopting an aggressive posture toward Ukraine.
“If Vladimir Putin wants to see gas flow through the pipeline, he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine,” he said at the time.
Psaki’s rhetoric on Wednesday coincides with mixed messages between Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on diplomatic options to tamp down tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and the West after the pair met earlier this week.
“We’re looking for actions here, and we have not seen de-escalatory actions from the Russians,” she said.
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At the same time, Psaki confirmed the White House would endorse congressional movement toward a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill, arguing it would demonstrate “a united front” against the Kremlin.
