Nord Stream Under No Risk Certification: Novak

Photo: EPA

Despite U.S. sanctions against the project, which Washington fears would strengthen Moscow’s regional dominance, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that the certification of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline poses no concerns, Reuters reports.

Novak said Nord Stream 2 was more climate-friendly than Ukraine’s gas pipelines which it is expected to replace as one of the main routes for Russian gas exports to Europe. Russia needs to understand whether Kyiv plans to modernize its pipelines so it can choose between different options, he said.