Merkel says sanctions on Nord Stream 2 over Navalny poisoning not ruled out

German Chancellor Angela Merkel does not rule out that the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline may come under sanctions in connection with the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

That's according to a statement by Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert, Bild reports.

"The Chancellor agrees with the statements made by the foreign minister over the weekend," Seibert said in Berlin on September 7, referring to the EU's possible reaction to Navalny's poisoning.

This is about the statement voiced by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who voiced hope that Russia, by refusing to investigate Navalny's poisoning, will not "force" Germany to change its position on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.

At the same time, Maas acknowledged that the project's termination would hurt German and European companies. At the same time, the German minister suggests, it would be wrong to narrow the discussion around the pressure on Moscow solely to the topic of the Nord Stream 2 implementation.

Read alsoNavalny poisoning: Ukrainian envoy to Germany calls for blocking Russian oil, gas suppliesThe chancellor herself confirmed last week that Nord Stream 2 project would be completed.

Earlier, Merkel also stated that the issue of the gas pipeline and Navalny's poisoning should not be linked and that the pipeline construction should be completed.

At the same time, Seibert stressed it was too early to make any statements concerning sanctions.

Berlin still expects the Russian government to explain why Kremlin critic Navalny has been poisoned.

Nord Stream 2: History of U.S. sanctions

• On September 2, Merkel spoke about the future of Nord Stream 2 amid possible U.S. sanctions.
• On August 6, 2020, the United States threatened the German port hosting a pipelaying vessel with sanctions over Nord Stream 2.
• On July 21, 2020, the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress approved legislation providing for new sanctions against companies involved in the NS2 construction.
• In May 2020, the then-U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell announced that Washington was ready to impose new sanctions over the NS2 pipeline. Grenell called on the German Government to reconsider its policy towards Russia.
• In response, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Washington's intentions to expand sanctions against Nord Stream 2 did not affect Berlin's plans for the project.