Via Reuters, US State Department this month told European companies which it suspects are helping to build Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that they face the risk of sanctions as the outgoing Trump administration prepares a final round of punitive measures against the project, two sources said on Tuesday.
- "We are trying to inform companies of the risk and urge them to pull out before it's too late," a U.S. government source said on condition of anonymity.
- State Department is expected to issue a report by Thursday or Friday on companies it believes are helping the Russia-to-Germany pipeline.
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Background (in brief) to this is the $11 bn pipeline, one of Russia's most important projects in Europe, has sparked tensions between Washington and Moscow.
- The Trump administration opposes Nord Stream 2, which would deprive Ukraine of lucrative transit fees, saying it would increase Russia's economic and political leverage over Europe.
