As the both chambers of the U.S. Congress decided last week to push ahead with new sanctions on Russia along with Iran and North Korea with overwhelming majority in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and meddling in US election, German economy minister Brigitte Zypries called on Brussels to consider countermeasures and said that these new sanctions violate international laws. Speaking to the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain, she said, “We consider this as being against international law, plain and simple….Of course, we don't want a trade war. But it is important the European Commission now looks into countermeasures….the Americans cannot punish German companies because they operate economically in another country."

The bill targets Russia’s Nord Stream-2 pipeline that will deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany. The proposed expansion would double the existing pipeline's capacity and make Germany the European Union's main energy hub. These new sanctions have already been criticized by other prominent figures in the European Union, including Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

Russia has already started taking retaliatory measures at it expelled many US diplomats currently working in Russia and bring down the number in line with as many Russian diplomats working in the United States. This has led to an expulsion of 755 US diplomats.

Many see the moves by American as economically motivated as the United States trying to make a footing in Europe’s energy market via central and eastern European countries. Speaking in Warsaw, Poland in July, Trump made clear that the US is interested in expanding energy ties with Europe, especially with Central and Eastern European nations.