“The worst-case scenario is not only that we will lose most of our GDP from 2024,” Vitrenko told Bloomberg.
He stressed that the completion of the construction of the Russian pipeline "means a much higher likelihood of a full-scale war, since gas supplies through Ukraine to Europe serve as a deterrent."
According to Vitrenko, the completion of the project will mean that "the pro-Russian position is being promoted at the expense of the West."
The head of Naftogaz also added that the refusal of US sanctions pressure against Nord Stream 2 could negatively affect pro-Western sentiments in many countries of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called the completion of the construction of Nord Stream 2 a fait accompli.
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed surprise at the US decision to lift sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 operator Nord Stream 2 AG.