MOSCOW, July 22 (Xinhua) – The Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline will soon
become operational despite Washington’s attempt to politicize the project,
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
Zakharova made the remarks during her weekly briefing after the United States
and Germany agreed on Wednesday on measures to reduce the risk that the Nord
Stream 2 would pose to European energy security and Ukraine.
“Despite the strange decisions that were made under U.S. pressure, as was the
case during the recent German-American negotiations, they are not able to
change the objective reality, the construction of this large-scale facility,”
she said.
Russia is confident that the Nord Stream 2 project will function reliably,
provide affordable energy to European consumers and strengthen the energy
security of the continent, she said.
The 1,230-km gas pipeline, expected to be completed next month, would bring 55
billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia to Germany through the Baltic
Sea.
Washington seems to be pursuing its own geopolitical and economic interests by
disrupting the implementation of the pipeline, but the project is beneficial
for Europe, said Zakharova, stressing that Russia is completely against the
politicization of energy cooperation.
“From the joint statement issued by the United States and Germany, it has
become clear to us who intends to control the development of the Ukrainian
fuel and energy complex,” she added. Enditem
