Merkel protege suggests reducing gas flow through Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate for the party chair Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is pictured during a Reuters interview in Berlin, Germany, November 30, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany must answer urgent, growing political concerns about the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project given Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian ships and their crew off the coast of Crimea, a senior German conservative said on Sunday.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a top candidate to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel as leader of the Christian Democrats, told public broadcaster ARD it would be "too radical" to withdraw political support for the project, but Berlin could reduce the amount of gas to flow through the pipeline.