Germany and the US are finalizing an agreement which would allow Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to open this fall – under certain conditions,

Bloomberg reports from Washington, citing U.S. officials. Conditions are to include: sanctions if Russia tries to use the pipeline as a weapon against Ukraine; Germany would lobby Russia to extend Gazprom’s Ukraine gas transit contract beyond its 2024 expiration; and the US and Germany would push for $1 billion worth of investments in a ‘Green Fund’ to help Ukraine’s move to cleaner energy. Germany would commit an initial $175 million to the fund and appoint a special envoy to support $70 million worth of bilateral energy projects with Ukraine.