The United States achieved a tough anti-Russian decision from Europe
The European Parliament opposed Nord Stream 2 and adopted a resolution supporting Ukraine and calling on EU countries to stop the implementation of the Russian project. The corresponding requirement is contained in the resolution adopted during the plenary session of the European Parliament on the report “On the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.” Members of the US House of Representatives made a similar statement a day earlier. The White House made it clear that they are preparing sanctions against the gas pipeline, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The European Parliament confirms that it considers Ukraine to play a key role in the European energy supply network. The European Parliament condemns the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine, as it is a political project that poses a threat to European security and diversification of energy supply sources. The European Parliament demands that this project be annulled,” the text of the resolution emphasizes.
In addition, parliamentarians called on the European Union to apply sanctions against Russia if the Ukrainian sailors are not released after the conflict in the Kerch Strait that occurred on November 25. As for Ukraine, according to European deputies, Kyiv should make the fight against corruption a priority, begin to solve the problem of “oligarchic power” and continue decentralization reforms.
The day before, a similar position on Nord Stream 2 was taken by overseas colleagues of European parliamentarians. On December 11, the US House of Representatives supported the introduction of sanctions against the Russian gas transport project under the CAATSA Act (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions). The launch of the gas pipeline, the document emphasizes, will be “a significant step back from the point of view of European energy security and US interests.”
The congressmen also called on US President Donald Trump to do everything possible “to support European energy security through diversification to reduce the EU’s dependence on the Russian Federation.”
The American resolution also called on EU countries to refuse participation in this energy project. And although the document is advisory in nature, and European partners are not obliged to implement it, European deputies did not fail to perceive this as a signal to action.
At the same time, the German media state that it is almost impossible to stop construction that has already begun and revoke the issued permits.
The Kremlin reacted very restrainedly to the resolution of the American House of Representatives.
“We do not consider it (the resolution) correct, we do not consider it acceptable for ourselves, because we are talking about attempts to prevent the implementation of a purely commercial economic project,” presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
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