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The US and Germany struck a compromise over the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, according to a joint statement released on July 21st.
“The United States and Germany are steadfast in their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and chosen European path. We recommit ourselves today to push back against Russian aggression and malign activities in Ukraine and beyond. The United States pledges to support Germany’s and France’s efforts to bring peace to eastern Ukraine via the Normandy Format. Germany will intensify its efforts within the Normandy Format to facilitate the implementation of the Minsk agreements.”
The pact comes days after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s last official visit to Washington prior to leaving office this September. Officials had talked up the chances of an accord during the visit, and during Joe Biden’s tour of Europe in June.
The two countries agreed to support Ukraine and to sanction Russia if it tries to use energy supplies for gaining geopolitical leverage.
“The United States and Germany are united in their determination to hold Russia to account for its aggression and malign activities by imposing costs via sanctions and other tools,” the statement read.
“Should Russia attempt to use energy as a weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine, Germany will take action at the national level and press for effective measures at the European level, including sanctions, to limit Russian export capabilities to Europe in the energy sector, including gas, and/or in other economically relevant sectors,” it said.
As part of the deal, Germany agreed to make investments into Ukraine and to actively ensure Moscow and Kiev extend a gas transit agreement.
“Additionally, Germany and the US would invest $1 billion in a “Green Fund” to foster Ukrainian green-tech infrastructure, encompassing renewable energy and related industries, with the goal of improving Ukraine’s energy independence. Germany will provide an initial donation to the fund of at least $175 million and will work toward extending its commitments in the coming budget years,” the agreement stated.
Bin erleichtert, dass wir in Sachen #NordStream2 mit den #USA🇺🇸 eine konstruktive Lösung gefunden haben. Wir werden die #Ukraine🇺🇦 beim Aufbau eines grünen Energiesektors unterstützen & uns dafür einsetzen, den Gastransit durch die Ukraine im nächsten Jahrzehnt zu sichern.
— Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) July 21, 2021
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas lauded the agreement as “constructive.”
He said Germany was “back to pursuing our shared goals and convictions jointly with the United States with regard to Russia policy and energy policy.”
“I am relieved that we found a constructive solution with the US on #NordStream2. We will support Ukraine in building a green energy sector & work to secure gas transit through Ukraine over the next decade,” Maas tweeted.
On July 21st, The White House announced that President Joe Biden would welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on August 31.
“The visit will affirm the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea, our close cooperation on energy security, and our backing for President Zelenskyy’s efforts to tackle corruption and implement a reform agenda based on our shared democratic values,” the White House said in a statement.
Nord Stream 2 is nearly 98% complete and has cost more than €9 billion so far. It will roughly double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream pipeline, in operation since 2011, when building work on Nord Stream 2 began.
Crucially, this took place while Russia was still a G8 member (now the G7 once again).
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The pipe is 90% complete – it is going forward and the US well knows no matter how much they stamp their feet it can’t be stopped. Ukraine is now out of the picture – their land passage towards Germany is redundant – and accordingly they will lose all their previous leverage. US proxy Ukraine has repeatedly overplayed its hand with Russia, and will now pay the price. By losing both the pipeline transfer fees, and the advantageous sweetner deals from Russia and Gazprom. The future dealings between Gazprom and Ukraine will be based on hard commerce, supply and demand, no favors and no sweetners, and no overdrafts on payments owed. The Nord-2 pipeline is very expensive infrastructure project, but ultimately it’s a Russian Geo-strategic victory over US, and latter’s sustained economic warfare against Russian economy.
At the end of Ukraine’s gas agreement with Russia in 2025, the flow will be reduced to a minimum and there’s nothing the US, Germany, or the EU will be able to do about it.
Russia wins again while ridiculing the US.
what i want to know is how is Nordstream 2 any business of the US Reich?
Germany and Russia should apropos that sanctions American oil stream that goes all the way from Alaska over sovereign territory of Canada to Minnesota or Montana.
US and their puppets Poland and Ukraine have absolutely nothing to do with NS2. Now they cannot blackmail Russia any more, that’s the whole point of NS2. Germany should just tell them to fuck off.
It’s like the US exporting their gas to Mexico and then Russia intervene and order Mexico it must include compensation to Cuba. Because they demand so. Americans are bullying not Russia, but Germany. Enough with yankee occupation.
The US reckons that Germany’s business with Russia or China is subject to US approval.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline goes ahead, while the incompetent idiot in the White House doesn’t allow the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The U.S. should mind its own business. Who the hell cares what Europe does, who they choose to trade with. If they want to import gas and oil from Russia, let them. Meanwhile, the Biden presidency in the U.S. is a complete joke. Gas prices are skyrocketing here thanks to the idiot. Who knows if the lawsuit filed by multiple states against the Biden Administration over the illegal cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline will amount to a hill of beans. Given how corrupt and bloated the U.S. federal government is, not much of anything will come of it.