Slutsky describes sanctions against Nord Stream 2, TurkStream as attempt of economic diktat by U.S. to detriment of its NATO partners
MOSCOW. July 15 (Interfax) - By introducing additional sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream pipeline projects, the United States is demonstrating disregard for the interests of its NATO partners, Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee head Leonid Slutsky said.
"Additional sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream are a manifestation of the bold and blatant unfair competition on the part of the U.S.," Slutsky told reporters on Wednesday.
"Washington is still trying to impose, with the help of the 'sanctions baton', its economic diktat, with no regard for even the damage being done directly to its own partners and allies within the NATO," he said.
"Klaus Ernst, chairman of the German parliament's committee on economic affairs and energy, sent only yesterday a letter to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, heads of several Congress committees and the initiators of the draft bill on extending the sanctions against Nord Stream 2, calling on them to abandon the measures that can obstruct the pipeline's construction and operation," he said.
"It is obvious that the statement of [U.S. Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo is some kind of original answer to the German side, too. The U.S. doesn't want to respect decisions or interests of anyone, except of its own," he said.
"This kind of policy will sooner or later hurt Washington, striking like a boomerang," Slutsky said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pompeo said that the U.S. authorities had moved to introduce additional restrictions in relation to the Nord Stream 2 project and a part of the TurkStream project.
