According to the
Kremlin spokesman, possible US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 present a
perfect example of unfair competition.
MOSCOW, December 18.
/TASS/. The US’ sanctions will not suspend the construction of the Nord Stream
2 pipeline, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
"We assume that
the project (Nord Stream 2) will be completed," he said when asked whether
the US’ potential sanctions might suspend the creation of the gas pipeline.
Possible US sanctions
against Nord Stream 2 violate international law and present a perfect example
of unfair competition, according to Peskov.
"Such actions
[possible US sanctions] are a direct violation of international law, they
present an ideal example of unfair competition and spread their artificial
dominance in European markets, imposing more expensive and uncompetitive
products on European consumers - more expensive natural gas," he told
reporters.
In his opinion,
"neither Moscow, nor the European capitals, Berlin or Paris like such
actions".
The United States
Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifying the
annual budget and expenditures of the US Department of Defense for 2020 fiscal
year (started on October 1), which obliges the administration to impose
sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipelines. Earlier, on
December 11, the House of Representatives voted for the document, and now
President Donald Trump is expected sign it. The US leader expressed his
willingness to sign the bill as soon as it is adopted by lawmakers.
The Nord Stream 2
project involves construction of two lines with a total capacity of 55 bln
cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to
Germany. Gazprom’s European partners in the project are German Uniper and
Wintershall, Austrian OMV, French Engie and Anglo-Dutch Shell. The pipeline
bypasses transit states - Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, and other East European and
Baltic countries - through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters
of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.
