The Bundestag has rejected a resolution by the Greens demanding a review of Russia’s policy and a refusal to build the Nord Stream-2 pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – June 11, 2021 \u2013 Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “The proposal was rejected in a direct vote <\/a>by a majority of the CDU \/ CSU factions, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Alternatives for Germany and the Left Party,” the Greens said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The resolution was entitled “Revision of the policy in Russia – consistently protect human rights, democracy, and the European world order.” The document called for “recognizing that a new pipeline, such as Nord Stream 2, is not needed for Europe’s energy supply, but is, above all, harmful to the climate.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n History of the gas pipeline<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two branches of a gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. The founder of Nord Stream 2 AG is Russia’s Gazprom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project is funded by European companies: French Engie, Austrian OMV, British-Dutch Shell, German Uniper, and Wintershall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline has already been built by more than 90%. The new pipeline bypassing Ukraine was planned to be completed by the end of 2019, along with the existing Nord Stream-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United States has imposed a series of sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and has repeatedly called on European allies and private companies to suspend construction of the pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On January 7, 2021, a fund was established in Germany to support the completion of Nord Stream-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18 companies have already refused to participate in the gas pipeline project or plan to do so due to the threat of sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On February 6, Nord Stream 2 AG announced the continuation of pipeline works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On March 14, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans <\/a>said Europe did not need the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. Nevertheless, Germany continues to insist on the completion of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On March 19, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on the companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 to immediately stop laying pipes and threatened to impose new sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline a trap for countries across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 20, 2021, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that Ukraine should remain a transit country for Russian gas to Europe, despite Germany’s decision to complete the construction of Russia’s Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 19, 2021, the US State Department announced that it would not impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, which is responsible for the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, and its head Matthias Warning. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the abandonment of these sanctions “is in the national interests” of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On May 26, 2021, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba noted that in the case of Nord Stream-2 Ukraine will fight for national interests to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 1, 2021, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky <\/a>stated that after the launch of the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, Russia will do everything possible not to extend the current contract for the transit of natural gas through Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 4, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the completion of the construction of the first line of Nord Stream-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 4, 2021, the National Security and Defense Council spoke about Ukraine’s chances to stop the launch of Nord Stream-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said that the decision <\/a>not to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its director Matthias Warning may be reconsidered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 8, a delegation from the national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy, led by Chairman of the State Company Yuri Vitrenko, arrived in the United States to hold a series of business meetings to convince US senators of sanctions against the Nord Stream-2 pipeline under construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On June 9, 2021, the Minister for Foreign Affairs <\/a>of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated that he had held\u00a0 “difficult” negotiations in Berlin on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline and the “Norman format”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n