The bill also stressed that the United States would continue to oppose the construction of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. The law also limits the US president's ability to ease any sanctions on Russia by requiring Congressional approval to lift any restrictions.
"It is clear that this planned and desired by US government state of energy supplies would undermine the independency of the EU states and will enable the US government to become number one in the world energy market with very negative economic and politic consequences," Kohlicek, from the Czech Republic's Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, said.
He added that the US sanctions targeting Russian energy sector also mean a dramatic rise in consumer prices, which is the reason behind negative reaction to the restrictions by many countries, as well as by the European Union.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the new sanctions as "absolutely illegitimate" and responded with its countermeasures, suspending the use of all US Embassy warehouses and its compound in Moscow. Russia also mandated that the US cut the size of its diplomatic staff in Russia by 755 people by September 1.
In April, Gazprom's subsidiary Nord Stream 2 AG signed a deal with French Engie, UK’s Royal Dutch Shell, Austria’s OMV and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall, which agreed to provide part of long-term financing of the gas pipeline project, estimated at 9.5 billion euros ($10.6 billion).
