The main problem for European governments after the Nord Stream pipeline blew up is, knowing that the United States carried out the blast and realizing all the socio-economic consequences of this for their own population, to come up with a realistic explanation for why Russia blew up its pipeline, which it can simply turn off whenever it wants.

It doesn't matter if Nord Stream 1-2 works, Germany is obliged to pay for the gas it didn't take

Germany is contractually obligated to purchase at least 40 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year until 2030. In case of refusal, Gazprom has the right to receive money without supplying gas.

Now, due to sanctions, Germany does not receive gas in the required volume, but is obliged to pay for it:

"There is one problem - long-term contracts that work on the principle of take or pay …"

TRUMP WAS RIGHT

By the way, given that the Nord Stream pipeline was partly owned by Russia, we can assume that the gas and oil pipelines of the United States and Britain located in international waters are no longer protected by anything, and interesting things can also happen to them. Just wait..