Prime Minister of Ukraine Vladimir Groysman regards the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as “a new type of Russian hybrid weapon” against European countries, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
He stated this during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava, the Government Portal reports.
“Today we consider Nord Stream 2 not just as a gas transportation system project, but as a new type of Russian hybrid weapon against European countries. Of course, Ukraine and Slovakia have the right and must retain the status of transit countries, but along with this status we are a guarantor of the security of gas supplies to European countries,” Groysman said.
He emphasized that the situation with Ukraine clearly showed that Russia would under no circumstances be able to guarantee the safety of transit through third routes. “And Ukraine and Slovakia and European partners are able to provide this through the use of the Ukrainian gas transportation system,” the head of government emphasized.
Groysman recalled: when Ukraine needed gas support, the government led by Arseniy Yatsenyuk managed to agree with Slovakia and international partners on reverse gas supplies, which saved the country and reduced dependence on the Russian Federation.
“Today this gas supply channel is very important for us, it provides us with an energy resource and strengthens our energy security,” the Prime Minister believes.
In turn, Pellegrini emphasized that Slovak companies are interested in participating in the work of the future consortium to manage the gas transportation system of Ukraine and plan to participate in the reconstruction of the gas transportation system.
As you know, the Nord Stream 2 project provides for the construction of a gas pipeline from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany, along with the already existing Nord Stream. Its capacity will be 2 billion cubic meters of gas per year, its length will be over 55 thousand km. The total cost of the project is estimated at 1,2 billion euros.
Four countries - Finland, Sweden, Germany and the Russian Federation - approved the construction of the pipeline. Denmark opposed.
Ukraine opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2 due to the possible loss of its status as a transit country. In addition, opponents of Nord Stream 2 are the USA, Poland and the Baltic countries.