GERMANY and Russia are on a collision course with the US after President Donald Trump approved sanctions against a controversial gas pipeline between the two European nations.
On Friday, Mr Trump signed a bill targeting firms involved in the Nord Stream 2 project - which will see an undersea pipeline built to increase Russian gas supplies to Europe. The US fear the pipeline, which will run along the Baltic Sea floor to Germany, poses a security risk and will strengthen Moscow’s grip on energy supplies to the continent. Mr Trump also said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline which was expected to start up in the first half of 2020, could turn Germany into a “hostage of Russia”.
Berlin and Moscow has since condemned the intervention by the US.
Germany’s finance minister and vice chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has accused Washington of a “serious interference”, meanwhile Russia’s Foreign Ministry added the project will continue “regardless of anyone’s sanctions”.
Mr Scholz said: “Such sanctions are a serious interference in the internal affairs of Germany and Europe and their sovereignty.
“We firmly reject this.
Donald Trump has signed a bill imposing sanctions against Nord Stream 2 (Image: REUTERS)
Nord Stream 2 would run a gas pipeline along the Baltic Sea floor to Germany (Image: GETTY)
“It is now up to the companies involved in the construction of the pipeline to make the next decisions.
“It is clear to us that we will not accept the imposition of such a sanction, and we will make this clear to the American government.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said: “Russia has implemented and will continue to implement its economic projects regardless of anyone’s sanctions.”
The European Union also hit out at the US for interfering in its markets, a spokesman for the EU said: “As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business.”
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the project will continue to go ahead (Image: GETTY)
The US bill which was voted through congress, calls on the administration to identify companies working on the project within 60 days to trigger the sanctions.
The Nord Stream 2 project is owned by Russia’s state-owned gas firm Gazprom.
Washington has also warned of the economic impact of the pipeline and fears it would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine and Poland to deliver gas to Europe, and deprive Ukraine of billions of dollars in gas transit fees.
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Washington warn the pipeline could impact the Ukrainian economy (Image: REUTERS)
Russia currently supplies around 40 percent of all gas supplies to the European Union.
The new pipeline is set to increase the amount of gas to 55 billion cubic metres per year.
Following the intervention by Mr Trump, Nord Stream 2 confirmed that its contractor, Swiss-Dutch company Allseas, suspended pipe-laying activities.
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The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions.
It said: “Completing the project is essential for European supply security.
“We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible.”