Checkmate: Western press on Putin’s game with Nord Stream-2

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Vladimir Putin has not abandoned a strategy of dominance in European gas markets. For this, it is necessary to complete the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, which will supply gas to European consumers. About Putin’s ambitions and attempts to counter Western sanctions imposed on the pipeline, writes the Atlantic Council.

Both the EU and official Washington opposed the construction of Nord Stream-2, as it will enable Russian Gazprom to control the European gas market and bypass fuel supply systems in Ukraine and Belarus, which potentially undermines their sovereignty. But even after the imposition of US sanctions at the end of last year, Putin continues to build a gas pipeline. So, to complete the construction of the facility from the Nakhodka in the Baltic Sea arrived ship "Academician Chersky". According to Reuters, this indicates the priority of Nord Stream-2 for official Moscow.



One of the co-sponsors of US sanctions, Senator Ted Cruz, bluntly stated that sanctions on the pipeline would apply to any ship and its owner who tries to complete construction work. Cruise's intention is to impede the operation of the Russian gas project.

Sanctions on Nord Stream 2 have been approved by the entire United States Government, and there is absolutely no room for maneuver

- wrote Cruz in an email.

The significance of these measures cannot be overestimated. Tens of billions of dollars, along with Putin's reputation as an experienced master of geopolitical chess, have been invested in the pipeline project. The only remaining step of Moscow is to act in spite of sanctions, which could negatively affect many officials in the highest echelons of Russian power.

This is check and checkmate

- emphasizes the Atlantic Council.

If Gazprom sends Academician Chersky to complete Nord Stream-2 in spite of sanctions, Gazprom’s main shareholders and officials will be denied entry to the United States. The same sanctions will apply to employees of the Federal Agency for State Property Management of Russia, which controls state shares in Gazprom and other state-owned enterprises. The management team of Rosneftegaz and Rosgazification, which are Gazprom's “major shareholders” with a controlling stake, will also be under threat of sanctions.

In addition, Gazprom will lose access to any property in the United States.

Russian economy will collapse under the combined pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, collapsed world energy prices and the sanctions imposed for Crimea and Donbass, are confident in the publication.
  • http://premier.gov.ru/
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17 comments
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  1. +6
    18 May 2020 15: 45
    Putin and Gazprom wanted to spit on American sanctions and intentions ...
    SP-2 will be completed soon ... and transit through Ukraine and Belarus will remain, since Europe needs a significant amount of Russian gas because the Dutch gas field has been depleted, and the Swedish one is ending ...
    And London has long been sitting on Russian gas ... I'm not talking about the rest of Europe.
    In addition, the long-standing enemies of Germany (the German Empire) - the Turks (the Ottoman Empire) have already begun to supply Russian gas through the Turkish stream to Southern Europe and can now influence the policies of these European countries, which is very unprofitable for the hostess of the European Union - Germany.
    1. +3
      20 May 2020 13: 33
      I agree with you on all points.
      And as for

      Gazprom's Major Shareholders and Officials Will Be Denied Entry into the United States

      - so special thanks for that. For there is nothing to export to the "exclusive" money and leverage (relatives).
      1. 0
        30 May 2020 15: 05
        Separate and many thanks. Yes
  2. 0
    18 May 2020 15: 57
    Ah, not everything is as creepy as described here. The Germans are working on a legal solution to this problem. In the meantime, the ship "Academic Chersky", as well as "Fortune", are waiting on whom (and what nationality) they will be "married" for the upcoming work.
    1. +3
      18 May 2020 23: 28
      Not just waiting, but loaded with pipes, at least Chersky.

      https://neftegaz.ru/news/transport-and-storage/548746-na-logisticheskom-terminale-v-portu-mukran-prodolzhaetsya-podgotovka-k-vozobnovleniyu-stroitelstva-s/
      1. +1
        18 May 2020 23: 37
        .. not just waiting ..

        They are waiting for legal clearance. Under whose flag, etc. To authorize then there was simply no one.
    2. +1
      20 May 2020 11: 24
      But what a terrible thing about refusing visas to some officials and the possibility of owning real estate in the USA. Similar measures can be taken to their counterparts in the United States. In addition, our property in Russia will be safer from blacklisted Americans ..
      1. 0
        20 May 2020 11: 35
        ..And what is terrible in refusing visas to some officials and the possibility of having real estate in the USA ..

        About the officials. In the United States there are many headquarters of international public organizations. Yes, at least the UN.
        As for real estate - it’s probably not about private real estate?
  3. +1
    18 May 2020 16: 49
    This is not check and checkmate for Putin, this is a time pressure for Americans.
  4. The comment was deleted.
  5. There he is, the bestial grin of American imperialism, about which the Bolsheviks so often spoke!
  6. 0
    19 May 2020 15: 21
    Quote: Dear couch expert.
    .. not just waiting ..

    They are waiting for legal clearance. Under whose flag, etc.

    This is all the same! wink
    1. 0
      19 May 2020 23: 08
      Not just waiting. They are waiting for legal clearance. Under whose flag, etc.
      This is all the same!

      The Germans do not care. They just deal with this issue.
  7. 0
    20 May 2020 10: 57
    So, the Strait of Mexico will appear.
  8. 0
    20 May 2020 11: 18
    ... Gazprom’s major shareholders and officers will be denied entry to the United States.

    In addition, Gazprom will lose access to any property in the United States.

    And even then, for sure, "The Russian economy will fail," the publication is sure. Oh, those confident of the collapse. How tired you are!
  9. +2
    21 May 2020 08: 52
    Sick on the head Americans. Sanctions would not be imposed, they would have received more. Take us the Crimea to palm off, or it was specifically Obama who sent the gingerbread cookies to the Maidan so that the Ukrainians forgot about the Russians who live in Ukraine. They wouldn’t add oil to the fire with their shale gas, they would live without Nord Stream-2. They don’t understand that we are lazy until they touch us. It's great that we have a great country, Russia !!! I love Russia !!!
  10. +1
    26 May 2020 10: 32
    Putin has long had to forget about some kind of influence in the world. There he is no one, a seller of firewood, and his bureaucrats, if they and their offspring are covered with travel to civilized countries, will sell their Putin offal, but Russia is not worth talking about.
  11. The comment was deleted.
  12. 0
    30 May 2020 21: 44
    So the game was cool - it’s as if it had been hit by a drawbar ....