Russia & CIS

Germany's Merkel Seeks to Calm Nord Stream 2 Fears

Merkel asserted that Ukraine will remain a transit land for Russian gas during a farewell visit to Poland during which also struck a conciliatory tone on Warsaw's conflict with the European Union over judicial reforms.

Russia Completes Nord Stream 2 Construction, Gas Flows Yet to Start

Gazprom said it had finished construction of the Nord Stream 2 subsea pipeline to Germany, allowing Russia to potentially double lucrative gas exports to Europe via the Baltic Sea while bypassing political foe Ukraine.

Russia Waits for Germany's Nod to Start Gas Sales via Nord Stream 2

Pumping commercial natural gas supplies via the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not start until a German regulator gives the green light, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Ukraine Says Russian Gas Transit to Europe Seen Falling This Month

The transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian gas transit system to Europe will fall to 109 million cubic meters a day in September from average 124 mcm a day in April to August, Ukrainian state-run gas transit operator said on Wednesday.

Russia, Ukraine Trade Accusations After Pipeline Attack in Crimea

Russia's FSB security service accused Ukraine of organizing an attack on a gas pipeline in Russian-annexed Crimea, an allegation rejected by Kyiv which said Moscow was trying to punish prominent Crimean Tatar figures.

Final Piece of Nord Stream 2 in Place, Operator Says

The last section of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been welded into place, its operator said on Monday, meaning the two long stretches of the pipe can now be joined to complete the Baltic subsea link.

Ukraine Warns Europe to be Dependent on Russia for Gas Supply with Nord Stream 2

The launch of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will mean Europe will be solely dependent on Moscow-run pipelines as the Ukrainian route for gas delivery to Europe disappears, the head of Ukraine's gas transit operator said.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Agrees To Long-Term Gas Deal with Russia

Hungary has agreed with Russia on all the conditions for a new long-term gas supply deal to take effect from Oct. 1, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on his Facebook page on Monday.

German Court Says EU Rules Apply to Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not exempt from European Union rules that require the owners of pipelines to be different from the suppliers of the gas that flows in them to ensure fair competition, a German court ruled.

Russia Says Nord Stream 2, TurkStream to Improve Europe's Energy Security

The Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipelines are designed to improve the energy security of Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Ukraine Discussed Guarantees with US, Germany Over Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

The energy ministers of Ukraine, the United States and Germany discussed guarantees for Ukraine about its future as a transit country after the construction of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Russia Pledges Retaliation After New U.S. Sanctions

Moscow pledged retaliatory measures after a new set of sanctions imposed by the United States on a Russian ship and two companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russia's foreign ministry said.

U.S. Slaps Sanctions on Nord Stream 2, Project's Opponents Say Not Enough

The Biden administration on Friday slapped sanctions on one Russian vessel and two Russian individuals involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but opponents of nearly-completed project said the move would do little to stop it.

Ukraine Naftogaz Says Nord Stream 2 Cannot Succeed

Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a political project that breaches European Union regulations, cannot work commercially and should be stopped, the head of Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz told Reuters.

Just 15 Kilometers of Nord Stream 2 Pipeline to Go, Says Putin

There are only 15 km (9 miles) left to finish the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that bypasses Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

Russia Expects Nord Stream 2 to Deliver 5.6 Bcm of Gas This Year

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is currently under construction, is expected to deliver 5.6 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to Europe this year, gas producer Gazprom said on Thursday.

German Court to Rule on Nord Stream 2 Gas Link on Aug. 25

A German regional court will decide on Aug. 25 whether European Union rules requiring the separation of energy production from transportation and trade must be applied to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Russia's Sakhalin Energy Says Maintenance Continues at LNG Train 2

Russian LNG producer Sakhalin Energy said post-shutdown commissioning was continuing at the second LNG train at its Prigorodnoye production complex.

Russian Investigators Conduct Search at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Russian investigators are conducting searches at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium after Saturday's oil spill near the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, the regional branch of the investigative committee said.

Russian Scientists: Oil Spill in Black Sea Much Bigger Than Reported

An oil spill off Russia's Black Sea coast over the weekend spread over an area of nearly 80 square kilometers and was much larger than initially thought, scientists at Russia's Academy of Sciences said citing satellite imaging.

Russia's Gazprom Meeting Obligations for Yamal-Europe Gas Exports

Russian state gas company Gazprom is meeting gas delivery obligations via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline in full, its export arm, Gazprom Export, said.

Perspective: What Lifting US Sanctions Means for the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

The Biden administration admits that the US sanctions are currently unlikely to succeed, as the project is almost complete and his government wants to improve relations with Germany.

Armenia Wants Russian Army Outposts on Azerbaijan Border Amid Tensions

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former Soviet republics, are watched closely abroad for any threat to Azeri gas and oil pipelines and the risk of regional powers Turkey and Russia being dragged into any conflict.

Operator Says Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline is Almost Finished

The much-politicized Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is 99% complete, the pipeline operator said Wednesday, after the pipelay vessel Akademik Cherskiy finished its initially planned workload.

Gazprom to Pay 349 million Euros in Advance to Use Bulgarian Pipeline

Russia's state gas company Gazprom has agreed to pay 349 million euros ($412 million) in advance for capacity on the Bulgarian extension of the TurkStream gas pipeline, Bulgarian state network operator Bulgartransgaz said.

Gazprom Trunk Gas Pipeline Ablaze After Leak in Russia

A trunk pipeline belonging to Russian gas giant Gazprom leaked and caught ablaze in the Perm region on Monday, but no one has been hurt, the company said.

Russia Rejects Aspects of Germany-U.S. Accord on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

The Kremlin said it disagreed with some statements in an agreement between the United States and Germany on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, insisting that Russia had never used energy as a tool of political pressure.

U.S., Germany Strike Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Deal to Push Back on Russian 'Aggression'

The United States and Germany on Wednesday unveiled an agreement on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under which Berlin pledged to respond to any attempt by Russia to use energy as a weapon against Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European countries.

Germany's Merkel Discussed Nord Stream 2 with Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, hours before the expected publication of Germany-United States agreement on the contested Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

U.S., Germany to Vow Action on Russia in Nord Stream 2 Deal

The United States and Germany will take action against Russia if it uses the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to harm Ukraine or other Eastern European countries, according to two sources familiar with a bilateral agreement expected on Wednesday.