In the past few days, the US has warned Germany and other allies through diplomatic channels of the risk of an escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This emerges from information that is available to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The USA made representations to the European External Action Service as well as to the foreign ministries in Berlin, Paris and London at the end of the week.
In Berlin, both the executive government of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the possible traffic light alliance under the leadership of the social democrat of Olaf Scholz (SPD) are under pressure to act.
The United States is urging Germany to use the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which still needs an operating license, to exert pressure on the Kremlin.
The US side apparently expects Berlin to stop or at least review the ongoing certification process for the pipeline at the Federal Network Agency. The project is controversial among the traffic light partners. While the Greens and FDP refuse to go into operation, the SPD has so far stuck to it.