The US has threatened Russia with measures against Nord Stream 2

The US has threatened Russia with measures against the German-Russian Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2 in the event of an attack on Ukraine. "We have had intensive talks with both the outgoing and the new German government about the issue of Nord Stream 2 in connection with a possible invasion," said US President Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Washington on Tuesday. "The fact is that there is currently no gas flowing through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which means it is not operational, which in turn means it is not a lever on Putin," Sullivan said. "Rather, it is a leverage for the West because if Vladimir Putin wants gas to flow through this pipeline, he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine." According to an insider, the United States has already agreed with Germany to close the controversial pipeline in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is what US government officials said to MPs, the Reuters news agency learned from a congressional representative. The USA had received corresponding assurances from the German side. However, it is unclear whether both governments have agreed on a definition of an invasion. The Office of the President in Washington said Germany had made commitments regarding Nord Stream 2 in the event of Russia's "aggressive action" in Ukraine. An invasion would be such a step. A European diplomat told Reuters that the US had told its allies that it would impose sanctions on the pipeline anyway in the event of an invasion. This would mean that steps on the German side would be unnecessary: ​​"If the USA impose (additional) sanctions, that is an academic question," said the insider. "Nobody will be able to do business with Nord Stream 2 for fear of US sanctions."