NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Criticizes Germany’s Support of New Russian Natural Gas Line; Top state department official praises Denmark for passing law that could hamper pipeline project” – Wall Street Journal/ Paul Sonne

“[Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs A. Wess Mitchell] offered harsh words … for Germany over the country’s continued support for a new Russian gas pipeline to Europe … known as Nord Stream 2 … a wholly owned subsidiary of Russian state energy giant Gazprom [that] would double Russia’s export capacity … adding a second link between Russia and Germany. * * * A $10 billion project, Nord Stream 2 had been planned as a joint venture [involving] Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Wintershall AG, Uniper SE, OMV AG and Engie SA, but Polish regulators scuttled that arrangement. The companies are still backing the project … now wholly owned by Gazprom and based in Switzerland. … [Regarding potential new sanctions,] Mitchell said the State Department was continuing to express opposition … and promote alternatives to Nord Stream 2 …. [b]ut …. the U.S. administration remained wary of breaking unity with European counterparts on other Russian sanctions separate from the pipeline dispute. …”

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