Biden urged to review decision on Russian gas pipeline

Lawmakers have argued the move is against “US national and transatlantic security interests”.

“We strongly believe it is in US national interest to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and to protect Eastern Europe from Russian aggression”, lawmakers Marcy Kaptur, Andy Harris, Mike Quigley and Brian Fitzpatrick said in a joint statement.

President Biden's administration on May 19th sanctioned several companies and ships for their work on the North Stream 2 project, but gave up penalties for the company dealing with its construction and executive chief, Mattias Warnig.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the move was “in line with the commitment to strengthening transatlantic relations as a national security issue”.

He has also said the US administration will continue to contest the $112 billion project outcome.

The decision not to sanction Northern Stream 2 ʹ a subsidiary of Russian Gazprom and Warnig angered many democratic lawmakers and republicans, but was greeted by the Kremlin and Berlin.

North Stream 2 has been completed about 95 percent, and the entire project could be completed by September.

The pipeline has been a point of contention between Berlin and Washington.

This pipeline is envisioned to carry 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually directly from Russia to Germany. It will also bypass Ukraine, an ally country of the West.