According to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the German government made the decision in response to Russia’s decision to recognize the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, the DPA news agency reported on Wednesday.

This decision is contrary to what Berlin has always defended regarding the gas pipeline, which even resisted pressure from the United States and some European countries that opposed the energy project for a long time.

Washington alleges that the construction of another pipeline to bring natural gas from Russia to Germany increases the continent’s dependence on Russian energy supplies.

Germany covers about a quarter of its energy needs with natural gas, a percentage that will increase in the coming years, coinciding with the closure of its last three nuclear plants and with the abandonment of the use of coal.

About half of the natural gas used in Germany comes from Russia.

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