Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba on Tuesday described as morally and politically correct the step taken by Germany to block the certification of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, in response to Russia’s recognition of the independence of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, according to EFE agency.

“I welcome the step taken by Germany to suspend Nord Stream 2 certification. It is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances,” he wrote on Twitter during a visit to Washington.

“Real leadership means making difficult decisions in difficult times, and Germany has shown that,” the Ukrainian official said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday the blocking of the pipeline certification, which will transport Russian gas from Russia directly to Germany, on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, without crossing the Ukrainian territory.

“In the context of the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the German government is halting the process of approving the Russian-German gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 until further notice,” the chancellor said.