Gerhard Schroeder, the former Chancellor of Germany and current Chairman of the Board of Nord Stream 1 and 2, assailed the United States for seeking to stymie the development of Nord Stream 2.

"The US is seeking to throw sand in the wheels of the project, in no way standing with the European Union, guided by its own economic interests, trying to hinder implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project. If one takes a look at the way (the US) President is seeking to promote sanctions it gets clear that the issue is about American LNG sales to the European market regardless of whether its standards meet Europe’s gas processing facilities," he said.

Schroeder also lambasted the European Commission for slowing the project down which he contends is in Europe's best overall interests.

The pipeline will run under the Baltic Sea and critics fear it would allow Russia to further control the gas supply to Eastern European countries. Construction is supposed to start in July.

American government and European Commission objections principally concern the continued functioning of the Bratsvo gas pipeline system in the Ukraine and the larger issue of diversity of supply.