The president’s statements took place during a videoconference meeting with representatives of the French business sector, Sputnik news agency reported.

Putin said that Russia is currently implementing ‘large-scale’ joint projects known around the world, such as the construction of Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG-2 liquefied natural gas production plants, as well as Nord Stream 2.

‘There is a lot of talk about them, in my opinion, to attempts to compete in an unfair way on the European market,’ the leader noted.

The head of State considered that there are ‘many signs of political speculations’ about Nord Stream, when it is, he warned, ‘a purely economic project that has nothing to do with the current political situation.’

Boosted by an alliance of companies from Russia, Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands, Nord Stream 2 is laying two pipelines across the bottom of the Baltic Sea that will transport 55 billion cubic meters per year of Russian gas to Germany.

One of the reasons for Washington’s opposition to the project is linked to its interest in selling its liquefied natural gas from shale fields to European Union member countries.

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