Merkel and Biden’s Negotiators Discussed Nord Stream 2

At a meeting of advisers to German Chancellor Merkel and US President Biden, Washington reiterated its concern about the risks of Nord Stream 2 for Ukraine and Europe's energy security. National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jacob Sullivan and Jan Hecker and Foreign Policy Advisor to German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline at the talks in Washington. The United States reiterated its concern about the risks the project poses to Ukraine and Europe's energy security, the White House said on Wednesday, June 2. Other topics discussed in the talks between representatives of the two countries include the G7 summit in Cornwall, England, the NATO summit in Brussels, efforts to exchange vaccines against COVID-19, coordination of efforts in the field of cybersecurity and combating digital extortion, and also foreign policy priorities, including Russia and Ukraine. The United States, Ukraine and the Baltic countries are actively opposing the construction of the gas pipeline, fearing an increase in Russia's influence on the European energy market. Washington imposed sanctions on firms involved in the construction of the pipeline. At the same time, the German government supports Nord Stream 2, although there are many critics of this project in the country. The United States did not impose sanctions on the pipeline operator In late May, the administration of the President of the United States, Joseph Biden, imposed and immediately suspended sanctions against the operator of the Nord Stream 2 project and its CEO Matthias Warnig. Washington explained its position by "national interests." At the same time, the State Department approved the imposition of sanctions against four vessels: Baltic Researcher, Vladislav Strizhov, Yuri Topchev and Academician Chersky. In addition, four companies were subject to restrictive measures.