Nord Stream 2 pipeline to remain amid Ukraine conflict

Criticism of the NordStream 2 pipeline, which will allow Russia to bypass Ukraine in transporting gas to Europe, has not affected Germany's view of the project, a government spokesman in Berlin said on Wednesday.

Earlier, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany had said the project, which Germany is committed to, should be put on hold after Russia seized three Ukrainian ships near Crimea on Sunday.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert added that it remained the case that Ukraine should still be a transit country for gas from Russia to Europe.