In the dispute over the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Ukraine is bringing financial aid into play because of the threat of loss of income.

"If we are offered talks about compensation, we will look at it," said Foreign Minister Dmitri Kuleba of the "world" (online on Sunday).

“But we will not necessarily agree to what is proposed.” Germany is currently holding talks with the USA about the future of the project.

Ukraine fears that once Nord Stream 2 is completed, the billions in payments from Russia for gas transit could be cut.

The chronically clammy country is dependent on income and is therefore one of the critics of the gas pipeline.

National security threat

Kuleba said he had the impression that "the US's determination to compensate Ukraine if Nord Stream 2 is completed has recently grown significantly".

For Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 is first and foremost a security threat.

“That is why we say that the pipeline should be used as a lever to move Russia to a more constructive role in the peace process in eastern Ukraine.” This conflict there has been going on since 2014.

The government of US President Jo Biden recently gave up some of its years of resistance to the pipeline and waived sanctions against the operating company - also out of consideration for relations with Germany.

A federal government delegation then traveled to Washington to discuss how to proceed.

For example, Germany wants to get Russia to extend its transit agreement with Ukraine.

It ends in 2024. Moscow would have to agree to this, however.

Merkel's clear position

Chancellor Merkel said on Saturday after meeting Biden at the G7 summit that she agreed with the US president that it was “existential and essential” to continue to involve Ukraine in the gas transit from Russia to Europe.

Nord Stream 2 will in future deliver 55 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Critics of the pipeline, including some EU countries and the USA, warn of the fact that it is too dependent on Russian gas. In the event that the almost completely built pipeline is completed, they are calling for at least the filling to be made dependent on Russia's policy.