Timothy Gardner and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Several Democratic senators in the United States stated late Monday that, following a meeting with Biden administration officials they believed sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was backed by Ted Cruz, could cause damage to relations between Germany and the US.

Amos Hochstein, President Joe Biden’s global security adviser for energy and climate change, met Monday with Victoria Nuland (under secretary of state) and Joe Biden on Monday.

Both parties reached an agreement last month that allowed Cruz to release his hold on numerous Biden ambassador nominations. The bill is likely to be put up for Senate approval this week. It is required that the bill get 60 votes in order to pass the Senate — which would be a difficult hurdle in the 50-50 Senate. Additionally, the bill needs to be passed in the House by President Joe Biden who is a Democrat.

Reporters were told by several senators that officials from the administration had been persuasive. Senator Chris Murphy claimed that Cruz’s bill could damage relations with Germany’s new government, just as Washington requires its support in order to stop Russia from invading Ukraine.

Murphy declared, “I think they case is right.” The Cruz Amendment would increase the likelihood of a Russian invasion. It doesn’t make sense to sanction the new German government after they just changed their positions to put the pipeline on the ice.

After Germany slowed down approvals, the pipeline for Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea was approved in September. However, it may not get final approval until the middle or end of 2012.

Germany’s ruling coalition has split over Nord Stream 2. The Social Democrats support the pipeline because it is what the country needs after closing its nuclear and coal power plants. However, one of their junior coalition partners, The Greens, is against Nord Stream 2.

On Monday, U.S. officials and Russian officials met in Geneva. Washington is trying to stop Moscow’s attempt at a new invasion against Ukraine. Moscow has already gathered nearly 100,000 troops near its borders.

Nord Stream 2 is opposed by the Biden administration because it bypasses Ukraine. It would also deprive Ukraine of lucrative transit fees and could undermine Russia’s struggle against Russia.

To improve relations with Germany, Germany, and other European allies, which had been strained by Trump’s abandonment of agreements on climate and Iran issues, the Trump administration removed sanctions from Nord Stream 2 AG.

Dick Durbin, Senator of the Democratic Party said that Robert Menendez’s legislation was preferable because it sends a strong message to Putin. Durbin stated that he didn’t know the date Menendez would vote.

Senator Tim Kaine said that if a substitute to Cruz’s bill is made, he would like to compare the two. Kaine expressed concern about Cruz’s proposed measure that would permit Congress to pass a bill to restore sanctions if the president does not waive them.

Ned Price, spokesperson for State Department said last week that Cruz’s bill would weaken the united front as a response to Russia.

Jon Tester, Senator from Utah, did not indicate whether he would support Cruz’s bill. However, the Biden representatives made the “very important” point that Germany must be backed against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tester stated that the message to Russia was “it would hurt negotiations with Germany…in regards to Russia’s impact on Ukraine.” Tester stated, “If we do sanction it should be focused on the problem not the collateral.”