Efforts to impose sanctions on the Nord Stream 2, an undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that would give Moscow enormous leverage over Europe, have long drawn bipartisan support on Capitol Hill,

The operator Nord Stream 2 AG continues the necessary technical preparations for the pipeline ahead of its launch.

The Bundesnetzagentur on Nov. 16 suspended the procedure to certify Nord Stream 2 AG as an independent transmission operator while the company transferred assets to the German subsidiary to take over the application.

The U.S. and some European opponents of Nord Stream 2 say it will make Europe too reliant on Russian gas, allowing Moscow to expand its political, economic and military influence. But other governments say it is vital to secure energy supplies, as gas prices surge and the threat of power outages looms.

The current transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine is due to expire at the end of 2024. It came into effect at the start of 2020, and was brokered by the European Commission.

The regulator said a new subsidiary of Nord Stream 2 AG announced by the operator would need to submit a new application for certification.

Russia has said that Nord Stream 2 is ready to begin commercial operations pending regulatory approval and that gas flows through the pipeline would help ease the current high European gas prices, which remain at sustained highs on winter supply concerns.

Russia has repeatedly said that the early launch of Nord Stream 2 would help ease the current high gas prices in Europe, which have soared in recent weeks on intensifying concerns over winter gas supply amid lower-than-expected Russian deliveries.

PGNiG and the Polish government have long been opposed to Nord Stream 2, saying it threatens European energy security and could see Poland's role as a transit country for Russian gas to Europe reduced.

The UK does not support Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to Germany