It is very important for Germany to escape dependence on Russian energy and that country does not negotiate with Russia on "the possibility of supplying Russian gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline", the German Economy Ministry informed on March 4.
" goal of escaping dependence on Russian gas is strategically important for the German government in terms of security policy and Germany is determined to pursue this policy," the German Economy Ministry stressed.
The German Economy Ministry's response came after the Financial Times reported late last week that there was an activity to consider restarting the $11 billion gas pipeline project.
Approval of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, was suspended in 2022 after Russia officially recognized the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
In September 2022, one of the two branches of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, co-sponsored by Shell, Wintershall Dea, Uniper, Engie and OMV, was destroyed in an explosion.
In January this year, a Swiss court extended the debt restructuring deadline for Nord Stream 2 AG to May 9. If it is not completed before that deadline, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be declared bankrupt.
Previously, a German government spokesman said that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was not certified and could not be used for gas transportation.
On the same day, on March 3, European Commission (EC) spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen commented on the possibility of resuming the Nord Stream 2 project with the participation of the US.
According to TASS, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said that the European Union's stance on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline remains unchanged and the pipeline does not meet the EU's interests.
"Our point of view is very, very clear. Nord Stream 2 is not a project for the common good. The pipeline does not diversify EU energy sources," she said.
Ms. Itkonen noted that if restored and put into use, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will operate within the framework of European law. The view is that this pipeline must operate in accordance with international and European laws.
Previously, Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov also said that there were no decisions or communications on Nord Stream 2.
When asked about the information that German newspaper Bild published about the ongoing secret negotiations in Switzerland to restart the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "The person mentioned in the article has denied the information, and the US side also denied it. There is currently a lot of untrue information. Therefore, I do not see any reason to comment on this issue".
Also related to Nord Stream 2, unn.ua quoted Lithuania Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys as saying that he does not see the possibility of resuming the operation of this gas pipeline. According to the Minister, this gas pipeline is very difficult to recover physically and politically, this project has been buried.
