THE NORD Stream 2 pipeline will be halted if Russia invades Ukraine, warned US President Joe Biden earlier this week, amid deepening tensions between the Kremlin and the West.

Biden said: "If Russia invades, and that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine, then there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it."

When questioned by reporters on how we would achieve this, given the project is in German and European Union control, Biden argued: "I promise you, we'll be able to do it."

The President was speaking at a White House press conference alongside German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, with the West looking to present a united front in the face of Russian troop build-up near Ukraine's borders.

However, while Scholz said the US and Germany had the same approach to Ukraine and to potential sanctions, he stopped short of making the same commitment to discontinue the pipeline if Putin initiates conflict. Washington has long been opposed to the £8.4bn 759-mile pipeline, which has already been completed.

If given the green light by regulators to pump gas, it will double Russian exports with Germany, providing 55bn cubic meters of natural gas per year. Germany suspended the pipeline's approval process temporarily last year amid governance concerns, but a full decision is expected to be reached later this year.

Meanwhile EU commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovkis said last week its approval process has been held up amid compliance issues.

(c) 2022 City A.M., source Newspaper