The Politics of Pipelines

The deal is unlikely to quell concerns about Russia using the pipeline to weaken Ukraine’s position as a transit state for natural gas.

Following the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader, mounting pressure to take a tougher stance against Moscow may finally prompt Berlin to abandon the embattled pipeline project.

The removal of technical requirements for operating in Danish waters will enable Russia to complete the pipeline's construction, but a new round of proposed U.S. sanctions could still thwart progress.

Following Moscow's move to cut off its oil supply, Belarus has, for the first time, threatened to tamper with the transit of Russian oil exports to Europe.

Their new agreement notwithstanding, Moscow and Kyiv are ultimately set to go their separate ways on energy.

While sanctions will depress Russia's economic performance, they are unlikely to go to an extreme that causes its economic collapse.

If the two countries cannot reach an agreement before the current agreement expires Dec. 31, Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine could well experience interruptions.

The White House warned it's considering potentially detrimental sanctions against the German-Russian pipeline. But the threats are still likely more bark than bite.

There are signs Washington might be inching toward action against the ambitious German-Russian pipeline, though such a move risks irking EU powers.

As Turkey and Cyprus cross swords once more over hydrocarbon exploration, Greece and the U.S. are wading into the dispute.