The 55 Bcm/year Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany may only begin operations in the first quarter of 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the weekend, signaling a possible further delay to the controversial project. Speaking at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Moscow on Saturday, Putin said that the project would, however, be completed without the need for international assistance. “Completion of the construction [of Nord Stream 2] will be delayed by several months,” Putin said at the press conference, posted to the Kremlin website. “But I hope that by the end of this year, or in the first quarter of next […]