US warns plans to open Nord Stream 2 ‘will not move forward’ if Russia invades Ukraine

Russia: Putin 'will face serious consequences' says Joe Biden

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An American official has pledged to work with Germany to derail the continent’s gas pipeline if Russian President Vladimir Putin pushes for an invasion of Ukraine. Washington’s state department spokesperson Ned Price revealed on Wednesday the Biden administration was “working with Germany” to ensure the European nation could withstand the loss of the pipeline.

Mr Price added: “I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.

“I’m not going to get into the specifics.

“We will work with Germany to ensure it does not move forward.”

Berlin has echoed Mr Price’s comments.

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Writing on Twitter, Emily Haber, the German ambassador to the US, said: “The US and Germany jointly declared last summer: if Russia uses energy as a weapon or if there is another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia will have to pay a high price.

“Olaf Scholz and Annalena Baerbock stated clearly: nothing will be off the table, including Nord Stream 2.”

Nord Stream 2, which is around 745miles long, stretches from Ust-Luga in Russia to the German town of Greifswald.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked about Nord Stream 2 during his Ukraine update to the Commons on Tuesday.

He highlighted how dependent much of the Brussels bloc remains on Moscow for gas supplies.

Mr Johnson said: “We have to be respectful of this, but the simple fact is that about 3 percent of the UK’s gas supplies come from Russia, whereas about 36 percent of German energy needs come from Russian gas.

“Germany is in a very different position from us, and its sacrifice is potentially very large.

“We must hope that in the interest of peace it is willing to make that sacrifice.”

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He added: “It was also clear that the new German Chancellor is determined to stand with the rest of the west to maintain a united front.

“Among other things, Germany has made it plain that Nord Stream 2 cannot go ahead—Germany cannot take part in it—if there is a Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

Mr Scholz predecessor, Angela Merkel, was an avid supporter of the pipeline as it promised to supply cheap fuel to over 20million German homes.

However, the £8.3billion pipeline would also increase German dependency on Russian supplies.

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