US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called on “all entities involved” in the controversial project of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany to withdraw “immediately”, because otherwise they risk US sanctions, reports AFP.

The head of US diplomacy assured in a statement that Joe Biden’s administration is “determined to comply” with the law adopted in 2019 and extended in 2020 by the US Congress, which provides for sanctions, according to Agerpres.

“Nord Stream 2 is an inappropriate project – for Germany, for Ukraine and for our allies and partners in Central and Eastern Europe,” Blinken said, reiterating Washington’s old opposition to the 1,200-kilometer submarine pipeline, worth nine billion euros. He says it is “a Russian geopolitical project that seeks to divide Europe and weaken Europe’s energy security.”

“The State Department is monitoring efforts to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and is examining information about the entities that appear to be involved,” he added.