The main problem for Kiev after the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be the issue of ensuring its own energy security.

This was stated by the head of the company "Operator GTS of Ukraine" Serhiy Makogon on the air of the TV channel "Ukraine 24".

According to him, the deal between the United States and Germany does not provide the Ukrainian side with any serious guarantees to continue pumping gas through the Ukrainian GTS after 2024.

“Our main problem is actually ensuring the energy security of Ukraine.

Now transit guarantees us the availability of a resource on the territory of Ukraine, and it also guarantees us as a state and military security, ”Makogon said.

According to him, the current presence of gas transit through Ukraine "ties the hands" of Russia.

He also spoke negatively about the agreement between Berlin and Washington on Nord Stream 2, stressing that there is no talk of providing Kiev with guarantees of maintaining gas transit after 2024.

“The document that I saw is more of a declaration.

I did not see any fuses there that the transit would remain.

We do not believe that this is an agreement.

Moreover, we were not a party to these negotiations between Germany and the United States, ”added the head of the Ukrainian GTS Operator.

The problem of Nord Stream 2 was generated by Washington, and a whole block of countries (Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States) joined in promoting this idea, which are trying to give the economic project a political dimension, Vladimir, a senior researcher at the Center for European Studies at the IMEMO RAN, said in an interview with RT. Olenchenko. 

“The goal is to increase the price.

As far as I understand, there will be a desire to increase the transit price, there will be a desire to try to make a rigid link between SP-2 and gas transit.

They are trying to tell us a bunch of things in order to further try to concretize them in the terms of the contract, ”he said.

In turn, political scientist Yuri Svetov believes that Ukrainian officials will continue to speak out over the deal between the United States and Germany.

“We have not yet gotten sober from them.

Most importantly, this is the conviction that the whole world must and must understand that Ukraine is the navel of the earth, for the sake of its dreams other countries must abandon everything and deal with Ukraine - it will sound for a very long time, ”he stressed.

Also on russian.rt.com "Paving the way for invoicing": how Ukraine is trying to influence the position of the US and Germany on Nord Stream 2

On July 21, the details of the deal between Germany and the United States on Nord Stream 2 became known.

As part of the agreement, Washington acknowledged that sanctions would not stop the implementation of the project, while Berlin pledged to seek an extension of the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine after 2024, when the current transit agreement ends.

After that, the chairman of the board of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, indicated that the Russian side is ready to continue transporting gas through Ukraine after 2024, based on the feasibility and technical condition of the Ukrainian GTS.

He added that Gazprom is even ready to increase transit volumes, but the issue of purchasing energy raw materials should be resolved on market conditions.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials are expressing dissatisfaction with the US-German agreement on Nord Stream 2.

So, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba said that the document does not clearly and specifically spell out guarantees for the country's energy security.

At the same time, Olga Stefanishina, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, demanded from the EU guarantees of maintaining gas transit and compensation in connection with the upcoming launch of Nord Stream 2.

At the same time, the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the presidential party "Servant of the People" Yuriy Kamelchuk said that Ukraine should become a gas hub for Europe in order to preserve the viability of its gas transportation system.

Also on russian.rt.com "The plan is absurd": how Ukraine proposes to create a European gas hub after the launch of Nord Stream 2

According to Yuriy Vitrenko, head of the board of Naftogaz Ukrainy, Gazprom's gas transit proposals are unacceptable for Kiev.

He claims that the Russian side allegedly insisted that Ukraine buy "a lot of Russian gas" at an inflated price.

State Duma Deputy Ruslan Balbek believes that "it is impossible to communicate in a businesslike manner with people who are programmed to reject any proposal from the Russian side."

Nikita Danyuk, Deputy Director of the RUDN Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts, a member of the Public Chamber of Russia, added that the position of Naftogaz is “due to political considerations” and urged Kiev to change it to “maximally constructive” to continue gas cooperation between the countries.

"In fact, the decision of the United States and Germany regarding Nord Stream 2 puts Ukraine in an unfavorable light ... The biggest outlet is again to criticize the position of Russia, which, by the way, is extremely constructive," said the interlocutor of RT.

Nord Stream 2 is a reaction to disruptions from Ukraine "

German economist Volker Helmeier, commenting on the agreement between the US and Germany on Nord Stream 2, said that he was “very embarrassed” by the fact that Berlin has to discuss at the international level its sovereign right to make decisions about its own energy supply.

“The need to actually defend Germany's interests is fundamental.

The fact remains that Russia has not violated the energy supply agreements in the least, ”he explained to RT DE.

At the same time, the German economist noted that threats regarding the energy issue come from Ukraine.

“On the other hand, the fact also remains that Ukraine threatened us.

Namely: she threatened to interrupt the transmission, transit of gas, that is, she acted as blackmail.

The fact also remains that Ukraine illegally took gas off.

We have a responsibility to respond to such attacks, ”added Helmeier.

In turn, the head of the Bundestag Committee on Economics and Energy Klaus Ernst called the American-German agreement a victory of international law.

“Now Russia will build this gas pipeline, we will receive this gas.

The question remains, what will happen with the gas supply to Ukraine in the future.

And the gas supply to Ukraine was a problem, because they did not pay their bills and illegally took gas, ”said the interlocutor of RT DE.

According to him, the launch of Nord Stream 2 will have a beneficial effect on German consumers of energy raw materials.

“First of all, this is good for gas consumers.

We have a reliable gas supply, we know that the gas pipeline in Ukraine is not in the best condition.

And by the way, the reason that everything is as it is is not the Russians, but Ukraine itself.

And now we are reliably provided with gas, because we must proceed from the assumption that in the coming years, at least temporarily, at least, I proceed from the assumption that it is temporary, but the demand for gas will increase, "Ernst stated.