"Today the Department of State is updating the public guidance for CAATSA authorities to include Nord Stream 2 and the second line of TurkStream 2," Pompeo noted.

"This action puts investments or other activities that are related to these Russian energy export pipelines at risk of U.S. sanctions.  it’s a clear warning to companies aiding and abetting Russia’s malign influence projects will not be tolerated.  Get out now, or risk the consequences," he added.

He claimed that these were not commercial projects but Kremlin’s key tools to exploit and expand European dependence on Russian energy supplies, tools that undermine Ukraine by cutting off gas transiting that critical democracy, a tool that ultimately undermines transatlantic security.

He underlined that the United States was always ready to help its European friends meet their energy needs. (ILKHA)