The U.S. government has again threatened to shut down the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued the threat in an interview with broadcaster NBC on Sunday.

“If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another Nord Stream 2 will not move forward and Russia understands that we [have] co-ordinated with our allies,” Mr Sullivan said.

Asked if German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would publicly pledge such a measure during his inaugural visit to Washington on Monday, Mr Sullivan said: “I’ll let the German chancellor speak for himself.”

Doubts over the trans-Atlantic alliance have emerged in part due to Berlin’s adherence to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia, which the U.S. and Eastern European nations have strongly criticised.

The U.S. had issued the same threat less than two weeks ago.

(dpa/NAN)