The USA have again announced sanctions against Nord Stream 2.
So far, eight people or facilities as well as ships have been occupied with it.
Washington DC / Munich - The USA want to impose further sanctions because of the controversial German-Russian natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.
Affected with the pipeline and with Russia in connection, Transadria and its ship "Merlin", said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday in Washington.
This means that eight people or facilities and 17 ships are now subject to sanctions.
Russia criticized the sanctions on Tuesday as a violation of international law.
Accordingly, dialogue with the introduction of sanctions is "unacceptable".
US Republicans had previously urged new sanctions against the pipeline.
Nord Stream 2 sanctioned again: Pipeline as Russia's geopolitical project?
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken stressed that the new penalties are in line with the US government's opposition to the pipeline that will bring gas from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine. At the same time, cooperation with Germany and other allies will be continued in order to reduce the risk of the pipeline for Ukraine and eastern NATO countries. Blinken also announced that the new sanctions are intended to counteract “harmful Russian actions” including in the energy sphere.
Critics see Nord Stream 2 primarily as a geopolitical project for Russia.
According to analysts and US MPs, Russia could use a new system of several pipelines to create various lines to Eastern and Western Europe in order to target individual countries in a targeted manner - for example by turning off the gas.
The fear that Russia could increasingly resort to this method in disputes was recently confirmed in the dispute with Moldova.
Nord Stream 2 hit by new sanctions: Protest from Moscow - dialogue with sanctions "unacceptable"
Moscow protested the latest decision from Washington. Both Republicans and Democrats continued to try to make Russian-European energy cooperation more difficult by taking action against the finished pipeline, criticized Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov in Washington. "We regard all the pressure against Russian energy exports to Europe as unfair competition that violates the principles of the free market economy."
"A dialogue with sanctions is unacceptable and violates international norms," Antonov told Russian media.
He also rejected US allegations about energy policy in Russia: "Such statements show that the US has no respect for its allies who want to enter into a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with our country." Moscow already has the reliable Russian partnership in the Proven energy sphere, said Antonov.
Nord Stream 2: A controversial pipeline with diplomatic vortex and sanctions
In the year-long dispute over the project, the federal government and the government of US President Joe Biden announced a breakthrough in July. They issued a joint statement pledging support to Ukraine. The US government also admitted that it will no longer be able to prevent the pipeline and therefore initially refrained from more drastic sanctions - for example against the pipeline operating company registered in Switzerland.
The announcement of the latest sanctions was part of a report to the US Congress that the government is required by law to submit.
Every three months she has to submit a progress report to Parliament on her efforts on Nord Stream 2.
So far, however, no natural gas has flowed through the completed 1230-kilometer double line from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Last week, the Federal Network Agency suspended a necessary certification process for the time being.
The operator Nord Stream 2 AG is a subsidiary of the Russian gas company Gazprom.
(bb with material from dpa)
List of rubric lists: © Jens Büttner / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa
