Speaking at a meeting in St. Petersburg on Monday, the veteran diplomat announced that final preparations are being made on the underwater link, which will connect the gas fields of Siberia to consumers in Western Europe. "It will be completed in a few days and will begin working," he said.

According to him, efforts by the US government to sink the pipeline now have no chance of success, despite the introduction of new sanctions in recent days. "There is still a full-frontal attack, in spite of everything, on Nord Stream 2," he said, despite the fact "everyone knows the Americans have realized [it will be completed.]"

Lavrov's comments came as Russia's state energy firm Gazprom announced that the final pipe of Nord Stream 2's second string was being welded into place. "The next step will be to connect the section of the gas pipeline from the coast of Germany," the company behind the project stated.

Last month, US President Joe Biden signed into force a new package of sanctions aimed at companies involved in the construction. In a letter sent to Congress, the White House said that "certain Russian energy pipeline projects" would expand Russia's influence in the region and weaken "Ukraine and Eastern flank NATO and EU countries," thereby threatening "the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."