Germany has taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday.
The decision, which was criticised by Moscow, is a significant move for the German government.
“Now it’s up to the international community to react to this one-sided and unjustified action by the Russian President,” he said, adding that it was necessary to “send a clear signal to Moscow that such actions won’t remain without consequences”.