Gazprom claims that the construction of its controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline is now complete, placing it on the cusp of being able to double its gas flows from Russia to Germany. The $11 billion project still needs to undergo final checks and certification before its inauguration. Once complete, Nord Stream 2 will facilitate the flow of 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas into European markets each year, bypassing previous routes through Ukraine. This has been a major sticking point; Kyiv usually receives billions in transit fees, and the level of compensation it will receive is not yet clear. The US has used the project as a scapegoat to apply sanctions to the project, which will add to Russia’s…