The government of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania established the special-purpose foundation, Stifting Klimatschutz, in 2021, to complete the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Poland's biznesalert.pl website reported.
It said America had imposed sanctions on the pipeline, but they could not apply to "allied-related entities."
After being set up by the government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Stifting Klimatschutz hired a vessel to wrap up the construction of Nord Stream 2, according to biznesalert.pl.
The foundation's largest donor was the Nord Stream 2 company, a subsidiary of the Russian state gas company Gazprom, contributing EUR 20 million, biznesalert.pl reported.
The Russia-to-Germany Baltic Sea pipeline was never launched due to the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Despite Russia's war in Ukraine, the government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania recently appointed a new representative to the board of Stifting Klimatschutz, according to biznesalert.pl.
Germany's Greens party has criticised the foundation's continued operation, saying there were "better ways to spend taxpayers' money," the Polish website reported on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the German parliament has set up a probe into the possible Russian influence over the government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to news outlets.
In September last year, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were damaged by explosions.
NATO regards the blasts as sabotage and has since "enhanced patrols near critical undersea infrastructure."
Russia may be preparing to repair and launch the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, media have reported.
Tuesday is day 657 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
(pm/gs)
Source: biznesalert.pl, USA Today