US announces first Nord Stream 2 designations

The US has designated Russian-based entity KVT-RUS and has identified as blocked property its vessel, FORTUNA, which has been involved in pipe-laying activities on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. KVT-RUS has been listed under Section 232 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for “knowingly selling, leasing, or providing to the Russian Federation goods, services, technology, information, or …