In the case of “aggression” against Ukraine, sanctions against Moscow will be “far-reaching” and tough, stated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an interview with ARD television company before his first visit to the United States.
The journalist asked several questions about sanctions against Russia, especially denoting the role of the North Stream-2 gas pipeline. Scholz himself in his responses did not mention the gas pipeline, notes RBC.
To the question of why Berlin does not use a gas pipeline as a “political lever” to force Moscow to take troops from the border with Ukraine, Scholz replied that it was discussing possible sanctions from the EU and the United States. “It will be very far-reaching, very tough sanctions, if there is a need. Although yes, now all our efforts are aimed at preventing the need for sanctions and the need for their use,” Scholz assured.
The journalist returned again to the “Northern Flow-2” and asked whether the chancellor wants to use it as a means of pressure. “Nothing is excluded,” the chancellor assured, explaining that such sanctions would be very expensive, so they consider all these measures “separately.”