US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has promised Russia to impose new sanctions in the near future. This is stated in a statement on the agency's website.
He stressed that Washington will consider the possibility of implementing measures under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). In addition, the States can use the European Energy Security Act (PEESA).
Pompeo also explained the imposition of sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline: if it is completed, “it will give Russia the opportunity to completely bypass Ukraine, depriving it of a vital source of income.” According to him, it will also open the way for “aggressive Russian actions.”
The US imposed new sanctions against Nord Stream 2 earlier today. They touched upon the pipelayer Fortuna, its owner, KBT-Rus, and the Rustanker company. According to TASS, the ship “Maxim Gorky” is also subject to sanctions.
Construction stopped in December 2019 due to US sanctions. In mid-January 2021, Denmark allowed the Fortuna barge to complete Nord Stream 2, but neither she nor the Akademik Chersky pipelayer have yet begun work. After Washington announced new sanctions, Germany warned the United States about retaliatory measures: the Bundestag did not rule out the introduction of penalties on the import of American gas.
