The US sanctions not affect Gerhard Schroeder

Biden said: “These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine"

In a statement on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said his administration had been closely coordinating Nord Stream 2 action with Germany, adding, “Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers.”

Biden added: “These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. As I have made clear, we will not hesitate to take further steps if Russia continues to escalate.”

The US Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing the “wind down” of transactions with Nord Stream 2 AG until March 2.

The sanctions did not affect Gerhard Schroeder, a former German chancellor and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s who has headed the shareholders committee of Nord Stream since 2005.