OREANDA-NEWS. The German and US authorities have not yet held direct negotiations on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the Handelsblatt newspaper reports, citing a statement from the German Economy Ministry.

It is known that the United States in every possible way is hindering the completion of this project and is promoting its liquefied natural gas in the EU.

The reason for the postponement of the talks, Handelsblatt points out, is that important positions in Washington have yet to be filled. As indicated in the Ministry of Economy of Germany, the dialogue can be started only after the contact persons and colleagues of the head of the German department Peter Altmeier in the new US administration are named and approved.

At the same time, as the German newspaper writes, an internal discussion on the topic is already underway in the United States. According to Handelsblatt, a number of US ministries, along with the State Department, Treasury and Energy Department, under the leadership of the National Security Council, have held consultations on how to proceed in the Nord Stream 2 dispute.

Earlier, Spiegel magazine reported that Germany, as well as experts in the field of transatlantic relations, such as the former chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Sigmar Gabriel, are participating in the discussions of Nord Stream 2 with the American side. Discussions are underway about agreements that could satisfy the Americans. Among the options being discussed is the option to automatically cut off gas supplies via Nord Stream 2 in the event of Russia's violations of human rights or international law.