Ukraine crisis: Russia sanctions package includes Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, says Germany

Author: Editors Desk Source: Euronews:

January 27, 2022 at 21:51

Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany, and her counterpart from the United States, Antony Blinken meet for bilateral talks at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin - Copyright Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP

Hopes remain that matters can be settled diplomatically, however.

Russia will face "massive consequences" in case of aggression against Ukraine, with a package of sanctions being prepared by the West that includes the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock told the Bundestag.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had hinted at including Nord Stream 2 in a potential sanctions package, stating Germany would discuss halting the pipeline as part of "severe economic costs" at a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on 18 January.

This week, Scholz again warned Russia of "serious consequences" to any military aggression against Ukraine. He urgently called for de-escalation in the crisis on Tuesday before a bilateral meeting in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron.

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