U.S. Waives Sanctions on Nord Stream 2, Builder of Russia-Germany Pipeline May 19, 2021 Once complete, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to transport natural gas from Russia to Western Europe. Jens Büttner / dpa / TASS U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2, the Russian-controlled builder of a Russia-Germany gas pipeline, which Washington has called a geopolitical security risk. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a letter to Congress that waiving the original sanctions mandated by Congress for Swiss-based Nord Stream 2 AG, and its chief executive Matthias Warnig, "is in the national interests of the United States."