A close ally of #Putin, #Matthias_Warnig, has been working to revive #Russia’s #Nord_Stream_2 gas pipeline with backing from #US investors - #Financial_Times #Warnig’s plan includes reaching out to #Donald_Trump’s team via #US businessmen as part of broader back-channel negotiations on #Ukraine.
#Warnig is a former #Stasi spy and used to be the head of #Gazprom’s subsidiary in charge of #Nord_Stream_2.
Some #US investors have shown interest in a post-sanctions deal with #Gazprom, seeing it as a way to further cement the rapprochement. But significant hurdles remain, including lifting the #US sanctions, securing #Russia’s agreement to resume gas sales and obtaining #German approval. #European leaders are alarmed by these discussions, according to #Financial_Times.
#Putin’s spokesman #Peskov said he has no information regarding any talks on the revival of #Nord_Stream_2.
Putin's IBS