"The position of the project supporters will not change": why the Prime Minister of Ukraine called "Nord Stream - 2" a threat to the EU

The launch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will allegedly be an attempt by Russia to subjugate the European Union and establish control over the continent with the help of resources. About this on the TV channel "UA: First" said the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.

Nord Stream 2 is a threat to the EU. Russia uses gas to dominate the continent. We oppose this, ”said Groisman.

According to him, the implementation of the project of the company Nord Stream 2 AG will allegedly put Europe in a dependent position on Russia.

“We are grateful to the USA and the EU, first of all to the Baltic countries, which support us in blocking the construction of a new type of hybrid weapon,” the head of government of Ukraine added.

This month, representatives of Ukraine have several times criticized the construction of the Nord Stream - 2. Thus, in the “Naftogaz” gas pipeline project was called a “trap” for Europe, and the Russian “Gazprom” was accused of three energy crises that Ukraine experienced.

At the same time, the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, expressed confidence that only US President Donald Trump can influence the situation with the construction of the Russian gas pipeline and resolve it in the way that benefits Kiev.

“Nobody asks us. I think that neither Mrs. Merkel nor Mr. Macron will influence the continuation of the construction of the Nord Stream. Since they are influenced by local business, they cannot do anything about it, ”said Zelensky on July 6.

Recall that the Nord Stream - 2 is two threads of a gas pipeline that will run from the coast of Russia along the bottom of the Baltic Sea to Germany. Their total capacity will be 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The highway is planned to be commissioned until the end of 2019. According to the latest data, more than 60% of the total length of the pipeline has already been laid.

“One gets the impression of some kind of bravado from Groysman”

According to Vladimir Olenchenko, a senior researcher at the Center for European Studies at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian Prime Minister “talked nonsense” about Nord Stream 2. In his opinion, the reference to the Baltic countries from Vladimir Groysman says that, in fact, Kiev has no other support.

“If we talk about weight and value, the Baltic countries collectively produce only half a percent of the EU gross domestic product, and Germany - 21%. When in Berlin they talk about support for Nord Stream 2, they think about their chemical industry, their heating, their economy as a whole, and since the Baltic countries have nothing to do, they have nothing to worry about. As for Ukraine, it is not a member of the EU, and therefore it is not clear why Groisman says this. Frankly speaking, one gets the impression of some kind of bravado on his part, ”said the source.

In turn, the director of the Institute of Contemporary State Development, Dmitry Solonnikov, pointed out that only the Baltic states, as well as Poland, act with the most anti-Russian positions in Europe. The same countries, as a rule, express the greatest support to the current regime in Kiev.

“All those who are in similar positions will continue to speak with each other in the same language acceptable to each other in the same way. Will there be a reason for Nord Stream 2, will there be some other anti-Russian cause, they will find opportunities for communication, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

He also noted that the leadership of Germany had repeatedly expressed support for the Russian gas pipeline project and readiness to implement it.

“The position of the authorities and business in this part has not changed in recent years, it is unlikely that it will change now because of the statements of Ukrainian politicians. In Germany, there is no reason, no reason to change this point of view, ”added Solonnikov.

Earlier, German Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmeier spoke about the importance of the Nord Stream - 2 for Berlin, recalling that the country is gradually refusing to consume coal and use nuclear energy.

“We do not make ourselves dependent on Russia. We are talking about reducing supply routes and creating new supply structures, because in the coming years our gas demand will grow significantly, ”Altmeier explained.

In this regard, the German side is also building terminals for liquefied gas, which can receive American gas.