US State Department officials have warned Moscow that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not proceed if Russia invades Ukraine, a position backed up by Germany today.

Washington fears the project — which will link a vast network of offshore natural gas pipelines between Russian and Germany — will increase European dependence on Russian energy and reduce markets for its own shale gas exports.

“I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price told National Public Radio on Wednesday evening.