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Speaking ahead of bilateral talks with his German counterpart, Mr Putin insisted the Nord Stream 2 project is “purely economic”.

The multi-billion pound Nord Stream 2 will run through the Baltic Sea and supply gas to Germany and the EU.

Its construction is being funded by Russian state-owned giant Gazprom and a group of major European energy firms who say the project will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by providing cleaner fuel to Europe.

But Washington has criticised the project for making a mockery of Western sanctions imposed after Mr Putin’s annexation of Crimea.