Biden Says He Waived Nord Stream Sanctions Because It’s Finished

President Joe Biden says he backed off from new U.S. sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project because it’s nearly completed, and the move would have hurt relations with Europe.

“It’s almost completely finished,” Biden told reporters on Tuesday as he left the White House for a funeral in Wilmington, Delaware. “To go ahead and impose sanctions now, I think is counter-productive in terms of our European relations.”