REUTERS
The company expects the draft to be voted in, then to be signed by President Trump.
National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine says sanctions aimed to halt the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine have been included in the U.S. draft 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
"Sanctions that will halt the construction of Nord Stream 2 have been included in the draft Act for the U.S. defense budget. We expect the document to be voted in both chambers of the U.S. Congress and signed by President Trump before Christmas holidays," the company's press service wrote on Facebook on December 10.
According to Naftogaz, the introduction of sanctions has strong bipartisan support in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
"In the meantime, the Baltic Sea is seeing difficult weather conditions. Well, that's because it's winter," the press service added.
Read alsoAnxiety in Kremlin as Nord Stream 2 pipe may be left unfinished
"Thanks to Senator [Ted] Cruz and Senator [Jeanne] Shaheen for their pro-active and unwavering stance that defends not only the energy security of Europe, but also the transatlantic partnership. Thanks to the small team that has been working on this for three years. Thanks also to the huge number of people who help, support and believe in us (or even if don't even believe, they root for us)," the press service added.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the U.S .Congress planned to include sanctions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the draft 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. According to Senator Jim Risch, the sanctions will force the construction companies involved in the project to stop their participation in it.
On December 4, President Trump announced that the United States had not yet decided whether to impose sanctions against the construction of Nord Stream 2.
UNIAN memo. The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia's Ust-Lug and Germany's Greifswald.
This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The construction of the pipeline should be completed before the end of 2019. The pipeline will be 1,220 km long.
The project is being implemented by Russia's Gazprom in alliance with European companies – ENGIE, OMV, Shell, Uniper, and Wintershall.
Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country, while its potential revenue losses are estimated at US$3 billion annually. The project is also highly criticized by the U.S., Poland, and the Baltic States.