German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday expressed support for the European Commission's proposal to prevent the recovery of gas pipelines in the Nordic rivers in the Baltic Sea as part of new sanctions against Russia.
He made a statement after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The German leader noted that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul did not meet his expectations, “even though Ukraine negotiated the team's greatest constructive approach.”
On May 10, on a visit to Kiev, Merz, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, issued a final pass to Russia, demanding a 30-day ceasefire. Three years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Leaders warn that if the rules are not followed.
Europeans are now preparing a new sanctions program, which is mainly aimed at the financial and energy sectors. On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed the initial details.
A spokesman for Von der Leyen explained that the pipeline's sanctions could be “dissuading any interests of investors, especially those of investors, in order to engage in any activities of Nordflow in the future.”
The gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 transports Russian gas to Europe until summer 2022, and then explodes and damages. Nord Stream 2 never entered service.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke at a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the meeting. Michael Kappeler/DPA
