We may include advertisements from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. After almost 20 years of Angela Merkel rule, all eyes are on Olaf Scholz whose recent accession to German chancellorship is said to have marked the beginning of a new era. The three parties that make up the German government are at loggerheads over new entry pipelines from Russia to the EU after just a matter of weeks.
The Green Party, which formerly formed a coalition with the SDP and the Free Democrats earlier this month, believes that the Nord Stream 2 project should be suspended if Russia attacks Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops have been gathered along the Ukraine border. The Kremlin will defend its red lines on the country, such as its membership or lack thereof of Nato, but it doesn't plan to enter the conflict in Ukraine. The situation on the Ukrainian border was a factor in the country s support or rejection of the pipeline, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, also the leader of the Greens in Brandenburg.
She said that the last government discussed with the Americans that if there are more escalations, this pipeline can't come on line. This stance contrasts with that of the SDP of Mr Sholz, who has been a supporter of the pipeline. He said at the EU summit last week that the question of the pipeline must not be linked to the Ukraine conflict.
He said that the pipeline, currently under review, was a private sector project. Green MEP Reinhard Btikofer said this response was sheepish and that nobody would be able to explain the pipeline going into operation while Ukraine is exposed to increased Russian aggression. Green defence official Agnieszka Brugger said it would be wrong to rule out an end to this project in the event of an attack on Ukraine. Penny Mordaunt lands a string of wins as UK and US progress REPORT Queen cancels Christmas at Sandringham with Royal Family REVEAL 'Great to see! Truss praises Qatar's massive 85 million investment OPINION Christine Lambrecht, German defence minister and SDP politician, called for stricter sanctions against Russia but did not mention the question of Nord Stream 2 in a recent interview with Bild am Sonntag. The construction of Nord Stream 2, owned by Gazprom, has completed but it has yet to receive approval to operate. The EU would depend on Russia for energy supplies, as a result of the line.