The joint statement that the United States and Germany released in July after reaching an agreement on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not legally binding, Russian gas giant Gazprom said in its first comment on the statement.
“On July 21, 2021, the U.S. and Germany published a joint statement, according to which the parties agreed that if Russia uses supplies of energy resources as a weapon Germany will take retaliatory action at the national level and at the level of the European Union, including the imposition of sanctions. This statement is of a declarative nature and by its legal nature is not a legally binding document,” Gazprom said in its report for the second quarter.
Before the release of the statement, the U.S. and Germany said they reached an agreement on Nord Stream 2 under which Berlin pledged to take measures if Russia uses energy supplies to put pressure on other countries.
The document also said that the parties are interested in the continuation of gas transit through Ukraine after 2024, when Gazprom’s current five-year contract with Naftogaz Ukrainy expires.
