Berlin not backing off Russia's Nord Stream 2

Berlin does not plan to back down in the dispute with the United States over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

"We do not need to talk about European sovereignty if that is understood as us doing everything in future the way Washington wants us to," Maas said in comments looking ahead to Joe Biden taking over the U.S. presidency from Donald Trump on January 20.

Berlin is seeking a new start with Washington under Biden after relations deteriorated during Trump's term. But there will still be points of contention going forward, Maas said.

"The German government will not change its stance on Nord Stream 2," he said.

"The important thing is that we are aligned on the central strategic and geopolitical issues, that we are on the same side of the field," Australian Associated Press cited Maas as saying.