US Senate to vote on Nord Stream-2 sanctions bill

 

 The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on Jan. 13 on the Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill proposed by Republican Ted Cruz of Texas. This is according to the announcement of the working hours of the upper house of the US Congress, quoted by TACC.

 Cruz's bill in the Senate requires 60 votes to pass. To get the upper house to pass the initiative, Republicans must enlist the support of at least 10 Democrats. The American newspaper Politico previously wrote that the Senate will most likely not approve the initiative. According to the newspaper, Democrats, who had previously spoken out in support of the new restrictions on the pipeline, "have signaled a change in their position". In particular, on Monday, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Newland and Senior Energy Security Adviser to the US State Department Ames Hoxtin met with Democratic senators to persuade them not to support the document.

The Republican bill obliges the Washington administration to impose sanctions on the pipeline within 15 days of its approval. Restrictions, according to the bill, will be introduced with regard to the organizations responsible for the design, construction and operation of the gas pipeline, as well as with regard to a number of their employees. Sanctions include a ban on entering the United States, as well as a freeze on assets in the United States and a ban on U.S. citizens or companies doing business with blacklisted people.

On Wednesday, a group of Democrats, led by Robert Menendez, introduced a bill in the US Senate to limit restrictions on Russia in the event of escalating tensions around Ukraine. It includes, among other things, imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, foreign and defense ministers, the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces and other members of the military leadership. In addition, restrictive measures could affect the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Emily Horn, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, voiced support for the Democrats' initiative. At the same time, she criticized Republican Cruz's bill, saying the initiative "would undermine efforts to curb Russia and take away the leverage that the United States and its allies and partners currently have." "All this is being done at a time when we need to be united with our European partners, including Germany. That is wrong, "she said.