Protesters hold posters in support of detained Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during an unsanctioned rally at Pushkin Square in central Moscow on Jan. 23, 2021.Photo:Xinhua

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that Germany's attitude towards the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is, for the present, "unaffected" by Russia's treatment of its opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

At a press conference after an online meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Merkel reiterated that the stance of the German government on the gas line project has not been changed.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. The 1,230-kilometer pipeline could deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Merkel added that it is vital to maintain channels of dialogue with Russia. "Despite all the differences, it is nevertheless strategically advisable to remain in contact on many geo-strategic issues," she said.

File photo taken on Oct. 8, 2012 shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, some 60 kilometers from the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua)

On Navalny's case, Merkel said that Germany and France reserve the right to continue sanctions against Russian officials.

Also on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that relations between Russia and the European Union (EU) are challenged by "a lack of normalcy."

Talking about the possibility of new sanctions over the case of Navalny, Lavrov said that Russia has grown accustomed to the "unilateral restrictions" of the bloc, adding that the EU remains an "unreliable partner" at this stage.