Sources within the White House revealed to Axios Tuesday President Joe Biden planned to waive sanctions on a corporate entity close to President Vladimir Putin to complete construction of a Russian pipeline into Germany.
The decision to greenlight the Nord Stream 2 pipeline run by CEO Matthias Warnig, a Putin crony and former East German intelligence officer, comes less than five months after Biden yanked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline to Russia’s benefit which runs from Canada to the Texas gulf on his first day in office. The day-one decision cost upwards of 25,000 jobs as the new president preached about nationwide unity.
“The State Department imminently send its mandatory 90-day report to Congress listing entities involved in Nord Stream 2 that deserve sanctions,” Axios reported, adding the department will still request sanctions against Russian ships. “The State Department will also acknowledge the corporate entity in charge of the project … are engaged in sanctionable activity.” Sanctions on the pipeline applications, however, will be waived, opening a new avenue for Russian gas to flow into the central European market.