If Russia invades Ukraine, German Nord Stream 2 pipeline will not be activated, Washington says

The United States is confident that Germany will not activate the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline with Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine, a senior US official said on Thursday.

“If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, North Stream 2 won’t move on.” Victoria Nuland, number three at the State Department, told reporters.

• Russia coldly receives the rejection of the United States to its demands on Ukraine and NATO
• China: 5 keys to understand why the Asian giant intervenes in the crisis around Ukraine
• Will there be World War III? This is what we know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict

“I think the statements coming out of Berlin even today are very, very strong,” He said.

Asked why the US was confident in this, he said the pipeline had not yet been tested and certified by German regulators.

“We will work with Germany to ensure that the pipeline does not advance,” Nuland assured.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told parliament on Thursday that her government was preparing “a strong package of sanctions” together with the western allies “included North Stream 2″ and Russia attack Ukraine.

North Stream 2 is set to double supplies of cheap natural gas from Russia to Germany, the first economy in Europe, something necessary according to Berlin to make the transition from coal and nuclear energy.

Nuland also said the United States asked China, its rival like Russia, to use its “influence” with Moscow, which has amassed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s borders.

“We call on Beijing to use its influence with Moscow to urge diplomacy because if there is a conflict in Ukraine, it will not be good for China either,” He said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Wednesday night Washington time about the crisis in a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing next month for the Olympics, which the United States is officially boycotting due to human rights concerns.

_______________________________

• The threats of anti-vaccines to a COVID-19 patient who they accuse of being an actor who faked the disease
• He was kidnapped at 16 and released at 58: the story of the man who spent his entire life in captivity
• Jacinda Ardern postpones her wedding due to coronavirus outbreak in New Zealand
• Woman refused to wear a mask on Miami-London flight; the pilot’s response will surprise you
• They run over a reporter in full live broadcast: “my whole life passed before my eyes”

Deshawn