Germany’s new chancellor faced pressure from fellow leaders at his first EU summit to include the future of Nord Stream 2 as part of the “massive price” to be paid in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Arriving in Brussels, Olaf Scholz, who replaced Angela Merkel last week, said his government was committed to protecting Europe’s borders, as Nato warned the number of Russian troops being mobilized by the Kremlin was continuing to grow.

“The inviolability of borders is one of the very important foundations of peace in Europe and that we will all do everything together to ensure that this inviolability actually remains intact,” Scholz told reporters.

Hours later, Germany’s energy regulator said it would not make a decision on certifying Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline connecting Russia to Germany and bypassing Ukraine, until at least the second half of 2022.