The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is being proposed to be put into operation with the backing of the US according to the idea of Matthias Warnig - a former Stasi intelligence officer in East Germany, former leader of the pipeline management company.
Many sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Mr. Warnig's plan to restart Nord Stream 2 includes approaching US President Donald Trump's group through US businessmen.
Some prominent figures in the Trump administration have known about the initiative to attract US investors to restart Nord Stream 2 and see it as part of efforts to rebuild relations with Russia. The group of US investors has drafted a deal with Gazprom after the sanctions were lifted but the identities of potential investors were not disclosed.
Senior EU officials have been aware of discussions on Nord Stream 2 in recent weeks. Leaders of some European countries are concerned and have discussed the issue.
Sources point out that theoretically, the latest plan to revive Nord Stream 2 will give the US a controlling influence with energy supplies to Europe as EU members strive to end their dependence on Russian gas after the conflict in Ukraine.
However, the obstacle to reopening Nord Stream 2 is huge, in which the US must lift sanctions on Russia, Russia must agree to resell gas while Germany must grant a license for gas to be transported to other European countries.
One branch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline remained intact after the sabotage attack in September 2022 targeting both Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2.
However, Warnig told the Financial Times that he "does not participate in any discussions with any American statesman or business representative," adding that he " comply with the rules as an individual subject to US sanctions".
In addition, Dmitry Peskov - Kremlin spokesman - also confirmed that there was no information about any negotiations related to this gas pipeline.
Mr. Warnig, 69 years old, left Nord Stream 2 AG - the company that operates the Nord Stream 2 pipeline - in 2023. The US sanctioned Warnig and Nord Stream 2 AG in 2022.
Last year, Stephen Lynch - an American businessman who has worked with Russia - proposed buying Nord Stream 2. Since then, many other potential investors have expressed interest.
Donald Trump has publicly criticized the Nord Stream 2 pipeline during his first term as US President. However, according to government officials, some members of President Trump's team now consider the gas pipeline running from Russia's Vyborg in the Gulf of Finland to Griefswald on Germany's Baltic coast a strategic asset that could be used in Ukrainian peace negotiations.
In theory, the ownership of the pipeline could give US investors a lever to control the flow of Russian gas into Europe - an important market for US liquefied natural gas exports.
But former senior US officials and experienced Western businessmen in investing in Russia have pointed out that the approval of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is not enough to put Nord Stream 2 into operation.
