"We have developed an alternative route that will not require any additional permits," the board member of Austrian OMV Manfred Leitner told the press on August 2 as cited by Vedomosti daily, while stressing that the cost of the project will remain at €9.5bn.
At the same time sanction risks still remain for Nord Stream, as a bill that mandates sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany was introduced to the US Congress on June 18.
But some analysts suggested that domestic bi-partisan outrage over Trump siding with Putin on election meddling and other critical issues in Helsinki could backfire with more sanctions and tougher stance on Russia in Washington.