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Allseas' decision to withdraw from Nord Stream 2 will not hamper project — Kremlin

The press secretary refused to comment on the potential sanctions on Allseas for early withdrawal from the project

MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. The decision to withdraw from the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project taken by Switzerland-based Allseas pipelay company will not prevent its implementation, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

"The company made a decision to end activities against the background of US sanctions, illegal from our point of view. Such a decision of the company is definitely ‘a turn to the right,’ shifting the deadline for this project but not preventing it. Although delayed, the project will be put into operation. The required capabilities to do so are available," Peskov said.

The press secretary refused to comment on the potential sanctions on Allseas for early withdrawal from the project. "These are commercial issues that cannot be made public," he added.

"I do not think that anyone will venture now to indicate the date. Objective force majeure circumstances occurred," the press secretary said. Russia faced "actions of a third state running counter to international law, norms of international trade and commercial relations," Peskov noted.

"Certainly, this creates problems but does not cast a doubt on the project as such and its completion," he added.