WASHINGTON – On February 24, the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus – Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Andy Harris (R-Md.) – released the following statement after the U.S. Department of State released its report on Nord Stream 2 as mandated by the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act (PEESA). The following statement released by the Ukraine Caucus reaffirms the Congressional intent that mandatory sanctions must be placed on the pipeline and all those engaged in sanctionable activity. Congress continues to stand with Ukraine as that nation continues to protect Europe’s eastern flank from Russian aggression and malign influence.
“We remain deeply concerned with the threat a completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline would pose to transatlantic security,” the co-chairs said in a joint statement. “This Russian malign influence project would undermine Ukraine’s security as it faces down the seventh year of brutal Russian aggression and invasion, which has led to the death of over 14,000 Ukrainians. It would also deepen Europe’s energy dependence on Russia, making our transatlantic allies and partners more vulnerable to the Kremlin’s political coercion. This is why the majority of our European friends oppose the pipeline’s completion.”
“The U.S. Congress has voted twice on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to place mandatory sanctions on the pipeline. While the administration has taken its first steps to fulfill its obligations under PEESA, as modified by PEESCA [Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarification Act], we fully expect that the mandatory sanctions be swiftly placed on all entities engaged in sanctionable activity. Congressional intent is clear – NS2 must never see completion.”
Source: Office of Rep. Marcy Kaptur