The US Senate is unlikely to approve next week a bill proposed by Republican Ted Cruz (from Texas) on sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This was reported by the US newspaper Politico on Wednesday, TASS reports.   

According to the paper, Democrats, who had previously voiced support for new restrictions on the pipeline, signaled a change of position on Wednesday. They, as the story notes, said they do not wish to interfere with Biden's engagement with Russia in light of US allegations of a possible Russian-Ukrainian conflict. If there are no surprises, Cruz's bill is not expected to pass the 60-vote threshold, the paper stresses, noting that Democrats have consistently supported sanctions against Nord Stream 2, but they will not go against the president at a time when he is engaged in "dangerous negotiations" with Russia.

Sixty votes are needed to approve the bill. Republicans need the support of at least 10 Democrats to get the initiative passed by the upper house. The document must also receive approval from the House of Representatives before it goes to Biden for signature.

Senator Chris Murphy (Democrat from Connecticut) told reporters that he was taking action against approval of the bill. According to the senator, the upper house of Congress needs to show solidarity with the administration at a time when it is trying to use a carrot and stick approach to preventing a Russian invasion.

Cruz told Politico reporters that the only reason they might vote against it is if they make the cynical decision to put partisan loyalties ahead of US national security interests.