US President Joe Biden has announced sanctions on the construction company overseeing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as part of sanctions against Russia following their rhetoric over Ukraine. The move comes just days after the German government halted the approval of the pipeline.
Nord Stream 2 is a giant gas pipeline that has been constructed to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany and onto other parts of Europe. Russia is a major exporter of natural gas and much of Europe relies on Russian gas for heating their homes and fuelling industry. Germany alone has around 50% of its gas delivered from Russia. The completion of the pipeline would double the amount of Russian gas brought into Europe's largest economy, and cost $11 billion to construct.
There are now worries that this may result in gas prices rising across the continent and may add to inflationary worries and household bills. There are even worries there could even be some gas shortages, though these fears have been seen as an overreaction by some.
In response to the move, Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev tweeted:
"Welcome to the new world where Europeans will soon have to pay 2,000 euros per thousand cubic metres!"
Marcel Dirsus of Kiel University's Institute for Security Policy said of the German decision:
"This is a huge change for German foreign policy with massive implications for energy security and Berlin's broader position towards Moscow. It suggests that Germany is actually serious about imposing tough costs on Russia."
While Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted:
"This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances. True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times. Germany's move proves just that."
The UK, US and the EU have already imposed a series of sanctions against Russian politicians, Russian oligarchs and Russian banks over the last few days in the aftermath of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Duma electing to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent states. These two areas are known collectively together as the Donbass.
While these regions are populated mostly by Russian speakers, they sit within Ukrainian territory and other nations now regard this as a flagrant breach of international law. Russian officials have said that the Russian population in these areas have been discriminated against and are suffering a 'genocide', a term that some have stated is incorrect.
It is worried an escalation could occur if Russian forces enter the Donbass, as while much of the Donbass is controlled by Russian separatists, the rest is controlled by Ukrainian government forces.
[Based on reporting by: Reuters]
COMMENTS