While the delay in bringing the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline on stream continues due to US pressure and sanctions, Germany and Russia have agreed a new use for the pipeline in the meantime: To deliver snow from Russia to Germany.

In a landmark deal - brokered by Swedish Lutheran minister and climate change activist Greta Thunderberg - Russia will provide a constant flow of snow from Siberia for distribution to German states who need the snow for decorating their traditional Christmas markets.

The USA has already protested and offered to supply its own genetically modified snow via a modern day Berlin airlift operation using a fleet of mothballed Boeing 737 MAX aircraft but the Germans prefer the authenticity of Russian snow, as it brings back happy memories of the Eastern Front in WW2.

EU spokesperson Ursula Von Richhofen told FNN:

Here in the EU we are all about innovation, and as we need more snow to prevent a collapse in Gluhwein and currywurst sales over the holiday period this seems like a perfect solution.

BTW...I have many old pictures of Russian snow in WW2 albums that belonged to various of my Uncles who enjoyed frolicking in the snow while serving with the Einsatzgruppen in Belorussia.