US official: Russia's Nord Stream 2 "cuts Ukraine off from Europe"
(Baonghean.vn) - On December 10, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon said that Russia is seeking to promote its power in Europe and control Ukraine through the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
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| Russia is seeking to boost its power in Europe with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Photo: AP |
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Fannon stated: “Through Nord Stream 2, Russia seeks to increase its counterweight to the West, while cutting Ukraine off from Europe.” This statement was made by Mr. Fannon after visiting Eastern Europe to discuss projects that could help Europe diversify its natural gas supplies.
The Nord Stream 2 project has been criticized by both US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Obama, because they see it as a political tool to help Russia consolidate its power over Europe.
Currently, most of the gas Europe receives from Russia is transported through pipelines through Ukraine, with transit fees amounting to billions of dollars, equivalent to 3% of Ukraine's GDP.
If Nord Stream 2, a project aimed at bringing gas from Russia to Western Europe via the Baltic Sea, and the Turkish Stream project, a pipeline carrying gas from Russia to Türkiye, are completed, this would mean the loss of transit revenues.
Critics of Nord Stream 2 say that with this project, Russia can take over the European energy market.
However, this month, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas affirmed that the country will not abandon its political support for Nord Stream 2 and emphasized that Chancellor Merkel has received a commitment from President Putin to allow continued gas transit through Ukraine./.
