Ukraine crisis: Why is Germany so cagey about Nord Stream 2? | DW News

Germany's chancellor is playing catch up on Ukraine. Olaf Scholz kept a low profile when the crisis began, but Germany's hesitation made NATO allies worry. It looked like Scholz didn't want to endanger gas imports from Russia.
Gas can flow directly from Russia to Germany through the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. On his recent trip to Washington, Scholz refused to confirm he would dump the deal if Russia invaded Ukraine.
Scholz is not the first German chancellor to feel the heat of Russian gas. Angela Merkel was criticized for not pulling the plug on Nord Stream 2.
But it was her predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, who helped facilitate it. His friendship with the Russian President is legendary.
Once out of office, he took up a leadership role in the pipeline project. He holds several high-level
posts in Russian energy companies. And he regularly defends Putin from criticism, even in the face of war.
The current chancellor has tried to distance himself from the former. Olaf Scholz wants to appease his Western allies and keep Russian aggression in check.
But Scholz still needs Russian gas imports to satisfy Germany's demand for cheap gas. So despite pressure from allies, he has yet to openly suggest the end of Nord Stream 2.