Nord Stream 2 would double the capacity of the gas corridor via the Baltic Sea to Germany to 110 Bcm/year and would reduce the need for Russia to use Ukraine as a transit country for gas supply to Europe.
Washington has threatened to impose sanctions on any companies helping to lay the remaining Nord Stream 2 pipe, a move that has been slammed by Germany and other EU countries.
"We decide our energy policy and our energy supplies here in Europe," Maas said. "We don't criticize the US for more than doubling its oil imports from Russia in the past year. The US exercises its right to an independent energy policy. So do we," he said.
While the political debate continued to intensify, there has been no indication work to resume pipelaying is close. The pipelaying vessel expected to carry out the work, the Akademik Cherskiy, is currently anchored in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Kaliningrad.
Other vessels - considered as potential support vessels - have come and gone from the port, including the Ivan Sidorenko, which is now in port at Kaliningrad. Mukran is home to the remaining pipe needed to complete the project.
