The Kremlin said Monday it does not see the risk of Germany blocking the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline due to the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, despite demands by some German officials.
On Monday when asked whether Chancellor Angela Merkel would protect the pipeline if Germany were to seek sanctions over the Navalny case, German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said: "The chancellor also believes that it's wrong to rule anything out."
The multinational Nord Stream-2 project, which links Russia and Germany via the Baltic seabed, includes two 1,230-km natural gas pipelines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year.
The United States, citing energy security concerns, has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on the project's participants. But Germany sees the Nord Stream-2 as a stable and cleaner source of energy as it is moving away from coal and nuclear power.
However, various German politicians suggested halting the Nord Stream-2 for the suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic Navalny in Russia last month. Navalny is currently being treated in a Berlin hospital.
Editor:Cherie
