Merkel does not give up the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline despite US

Merkel admits that she could weigh the Kremlin's action against Navalny.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was not giving up on the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which is facing US sanctions, although this is likely to disrupt Berlin's generally improved relations with the new US administration. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is to transport Russian gas to Germany, faces supra-party rejection in the United States. Washington says the project will increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas and damage Europe's energy security. The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is owned by the Russian state-owned company Gazprom, while several European companies have also invested in the project. Merkel is consistently behind the project. On Thursday, however, she admitted that last year's assassination of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was being treated in Germany after nerve-paralytic poisoning, "could play a role." Gazprom said that only 6 percent of the pipeline, or about 150 kilometers, needed to be completed. The company insists that the pipeline be completed soon, but admitted that there is a risk of interruption or cancellation of the project.