US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland reveals details of Nord Stream 2 deal with Germany
The United States and Germany have reached an agreement designed to provide Ukraine with guarantees of gas transit after the launch of Nord Stream 2, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said during a report to the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
In particular, Germany will be obliged to seek an extension of the contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine for another 10 years after 2024. At the same time, Germany will seek sanctions against Russia if Moscow starts using energy resources to put pressure on other countries.
“Germany is committed to taking action at the national level, as well as taking action at the pan-European level, including through sanctions,” she said. Such restrictions, she said, will be aimed at limiting Russia's export opportunities in the energy sector.
Germany and the United States will jointly help Ukraine to diversify energy sources, Washington and Berlin will provide financial support to Kiev for this.
“The US and Germany have made significant efforts to help diversify Ukraine's energy supplies and sources, with specific dollar and euro amounts,” said the US Undersecretary of State.
Reports of the agreement drew immediate backlash from legislators in both Germany and the United States.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz said the reported deal would be "a geopolitical generational victory for Putin and a disaster for the United States and our allies." Cruz and other lawmakers are outraged that Biden has waived congressional sanctions against the pipeline.
Some US lawmakers have already introduced an amendment that will prevent the Biden administration from continuing to waive sanctions, although prospects for adoption remain uncertain.
US officials have tried to reassure lawmakers that the Biden administration reserves the right to enforce sanctions on an individual basis under US law.
In Germany, senior members of the green environmentalist party called the agreement a “bitter failure in climate protection” that will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken Ukraine.
"At a time when Putin is putting massive rhetorical and military pressure on Ukraine and again questioning the country's sovereignty, Washington and Berlin are sending the wrong signals to Moscow," said Oliver Crisher, deputy chairman of the party's parliamentary group, and Manuel. Sarrazin, a spokesman for Eastern European politics.