Russia sees no reasons to doubt Berlin can be negotiated with on Nord Stream 2 - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax) - Moscow so far has no reasons to doubt that negotiations with Berlin concerning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could be productive, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"At this stage, we don't have reasons to doubt that Berlin can be negotiated with on this particular matter," Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.

"For Russia, the Nord Stream 2 construction has been an exclusively economic project all along, an undertaking that Gazprom is pursuing to supply Europe with energy, to derive profit on a legal basis, and to engage all countries concerned to interact on an understandable, lawful, and beneficial basis. Judging by the German federal foreign minister's statement, she also adds some geo-strategic dimension to Nord Stream 2, but we take notice of this," Zakharova said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's visit to Moscow is being worked on and the dates of her arrival have yet to be agreed upon, she said.