Ukraine seeks to “cut off” Nord Stream 2
Ukraine is looking for every way to "cut off" the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, running under the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said on April 16 that it is necessary to prevent Russian aggression in the energy sector, including within the framework of the plan to build a gas pipeline across the bottom of the Baltic Sea, the Nord Stream 2 project, which has now become Moscow's "hybrid weapon."
Mr. Groysman said at a meeting with his Slovak counterpart Peter Pellegrini that the Kiev government considers the “Nord Stream 2” project to be a Russian hybrid weapon. The content of this exchange was posted on the website of the Ukrainian Government.
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| Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Photo: Nord Stream 2 |
According to the head of the Ukrainian Cabinet, the implementation of this project will lead to “the destruction of the gas transmission system of his country, which currently plays a key role in the field of fuel supplies to European countries.
Mr. Groysman expressed his determination to continue the fight against the construction of "Nord Stream - 2", which was raised by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, stating that "the aggressor will pay a high price for his actions."
The Ukrainian government leader also assured that the country's gas transportation system has been, is and will be a reliable transit route, ensuring 100% safe delivery of gas to European consumers. The Kiev government is ready to work with international partners to upgrade and manage Ukraine's gas transportation system.
In a last-ditch effort to block Nord Stream 2, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week that Kiev continues to demand the termination of the Nord Stream 2 project and proposes giving priority to German companies in managing Ukraine's gas transportation system.
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The US and the Kiev government are concerned that Nord Stream 2 will "knot" the pipeline route through Ukraine. |
Echoing his ally, US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel last month, also asked her to give up support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in exchange for negotiations on a new trade deal between the US and Europe.
However, Germany's point of view is very clear, they do not consider this project as a "geopolitical weapon" or "hybrid weapon" of Russia, but simply evaluate it as a potential commercial project, contributing to ensuring energy security for Europe, including Germany.
It is known that the "Nord Stream-2" project has a total investment of 9.5 billion euros, including the construction of two pipelines from the Russian coast running underground under the Baltic Sea; through the territorial waters or exclusive economic zones of five countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany - which is the first destination.
This new pipeline is expected to be built next to the Nord Stream pipeline system that has been operating since 2012. The total expected capacity of the two new pipelines is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year and it is expected that, if all goes well, the flow will begin in 2020.
As of early April, 1,000 km of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline out of a total length of more than 1,200 km in the waters of Finland, Sweden and Germany had been laid on the bottom of the Baltic Sea.Currently, the joint venture implementing this project, Nord Stream 2 AG, is only waiting for approval to adjust the route running through Denmark's exclusive economic zone to complete the final stage of pipeline installation, preparing to enter the operational phase.
