Thread by @anders_aslund

The German government non-paper published by Axios @zacharybasu (congratulations!) is astounding (presuming it is correct), containing four lies on its first page.
documentcloud.org/documents/2111…

1. First German government lie: "NoS2 at present no threat to Ukraine as long as a reasonable gas transit is ensured." No reasonable gas transit through Ukraine can be assured when NS2 is brought into operation

2. Second lie: "Cooperation ensures that Russia does not use energy as a weapon."
Russia has useds energy as a weapon in Eastern Europe since the US-German statement was signed on July 21. Why do you lie so blatantly?

3. Third lie: "Nord Stream 2 has not softened Germany’s foreign policy on Russia."
This effort to lobby the US Congress in favor of Putin & Gazprom suggests that the current German government has crossed the line. Arguably, it could claim that it did so before.

4. Fourth lie: "Sanctions against a US-ally would only be a victory for Putin."
No sanctions against any US ally has been discussed, only against fully-owned Russian Nord Stream 2 AG & its Stasi CEO Matthias Warnig.
(I favor sanctions against Chair Schröder but US GOV doesn't.)

5. "Rise in energy prices is a global phenomenon and cannot be exclusively attributed to Russia."
Not exclusively, but Gazprom has aggravated the situation, filling its domestic storages while emptying its German & Austrian storages. @v_milov explains it:
promoteukraine.org/vladimir-milov…

Conclusion: If the German government stands by this "non-paper," the US GOV should instantly impose sanctions on NS2 AG & Warnig.
Great that this pro-Putin German government soon is leaving for a much more pro-EU government.
The current German Gov should apologize (or deny).