Nord Stream 2: Ukraine wins small victory over Russia

The Nord Stream 2 logo on the Chelyabinsk pipeline in Russia.

REUTERS - Maxim Shemetov

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In the poker game between Ukraine and Russia, around the issue of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, it is Kiev which has just put a major card on the table, after the German energy regulator, in charge. certification of Nord Stream 2, recognized the Ukrainian gas operator as a stakeholder in the pipeline certification process.

Ukraine thus hopes to delay or prevent the commissioning of Nord Stream 2, using European law.

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With our correspondent in Kiev

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Nord Stream 2 is virtually complete, but to put it into service, Germany has four months, from September 8 to January 8, to have it certified by the very official Federal Network Agency of the Federal Republic.

Then, the European Commission will have two to four months to study the German decision and in turn approve the commissioning of the Russian project, which puts water in gas, in Central and Eastern Europe.

But Ukraine, which is the big loser of Nord Stream 2, has not had its last word.

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No gift from von der Leyen

Ukrainian gas operator Naftogaz has asked Germany to be involved in the certification process, using European law and the association agreement signed between Kiev and Brussels, according to which Ukraine has legal interests and trade in European energy policy. " 

", declared Yuri Vitrenko, the CEO of Naftogaz on Twitter, posting a sign of the two fingers, symbol of first victory.

Ukraine is therefore playing the clock, hoping that it can derail the certification process of Nord Stream 2 before January.

Energy experts in Kiev believe that the European Union has duties towards Kiev, which are enshrined in the accession agreement signed with Ukraine after the Maidan revolution.

Only, in Brussels, the president of the European Commission is called Ursula von der Leyen, and there is little chance that this personality of the German CDU will give gifts to the Ukrainians.

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• Ukraine

• Russia

• Germany