Additionally, Germany has halted the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia—a $11.6 billion project owned by Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom—a profitable deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europe's reliance on Russian energy. The United Kingdom (U.K.) also announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian billionaires—Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg—who are owners of SGM Group, which makes oil and gas infrastructure, and the private investment firm Volga Group. Additionally, the U.K. has announced that Britain will stop Russia from selling sovereign debt in London and has declared it is prepared to go much further if Russia does not pull back, including limiting the ability of the Russian state and Russian companies to raise funds in U.K. markets, prohibiting a range of high-tech exports, and further isolating Russian banks from the global economy.