U.S. authorities have announced sanctions on one Russian vessel and two Russians involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which the Biden administration opposes, fearing it could be exploited by Moscow to weaponize energy deliveries against European allies. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an Aug. 20 statement that a report has been submitted to Congress that lists the Russian entities to be sanctioned under the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019 (PEESA). While the specifics of the report have not been made public, Blinken said that the vessel listed in the report, along with one other Russian vessel involved in the Nord Stream 2 project, would be designated as blocked property, bringing the total number of entities sanctioned under PEESA rules for their involvement in the project to seven persons and 16 vessels. “Even as the Administration continues to oppose the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, including via our …