“All hopes collapsed”: why Canada denied Ukraine the ability to replace Nord Stream supplies

Gas supplies through Ukraine are not capable of replacing Germany's Nord Stream (SP).

This statement was made at a parliamentary hearing by Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, justifying the transfer of a turbine for the Russian pipeline to Berlin.

“The bottom line is that the flow capacity that can be expected from deliveries from Russia to Germany through Ukraine will be significantly lower than Nord Stream can supply when operating at or near maximum capacity,” he said.

According to Wilkinson, he had previously reviewed alternative fuel supplies proposed by the Ukrainian authorities, along with technical experts from the International Energy Agency and officials from Germany and the EU.

However, it was decided to abandon it due to a number of technical problems and other issues that jeopardize the stability of blue fuel supplies to Europe.

In particular, Wilkinson noted the need to rely on the will of Russia to increase transit through Ukraine, as well as take into account the ongoing hostilities in the country.

“The idea of ​​facilitating the shutdown of Nord Stream 1 and relying only on pipelines that pass through territories where hostilities are currently taking place would be fraught with a huge risk for their (European countries. -

) economies and citizens,” Wilkinson said.

In addition, when deciding to return the turbine, Canada also proceeded from other considerations, the Canadian minister noted.

Among them is the deprivation of Russia of an excuse to further reduce supplies through Nord Stream, as well as the conviction that sanctions should punish the Russian Federation, and not jeopardize the economic stability of Europe.

Wilkinson also recalled that Canada's position was supported by the United States, the European Union and Germany.

The Ukrainian side expressed its categorical disagreement with the arguments of Jonathan Wilkinson.

As Ukrainian Ambassador to Ottawa Yulia Kovaliv stated at the same hearing, the return of the Nord Stream turbines sets a dangerous precedent that allegedly violates international solidarity.

In addition, in her opinion, Ukraine is quite capable of replacing gas supplies to Germany.

“It is not true that Ukraine cannot supply gas and replace its supplies to Germany.

The capacity of the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) is 40% higher than Nord Stream 1, and even now the volume of gas supplied to Europe by Ukraine is higher than that of Nord Stream 1, Kovaliv said.

In addition, she recalled, the Ukrainian GTS is the only system where Gazprom does not have a stake.”

• Parliament of Canada

• Gettyimages.ru

• © AK2

Meanwhile, Deputy General Director of the National Energy Institute Alexander Frolov, in an interview with RT, recalled that Ukraine had previously reduced its transit capabilities by itself, banning gas pumping through the Sokhranovka gas measuring station (GIS) (on the territory of the LPR) in May, citing the fact that it had lost control over her.

Thus, only one point remained for gas transit - the Sudzha station, the expert added.

“The Ukrainian side insists that much larger volumes be pumped through Sudzha, but Gazprom notes that this is impossible for technical reasons.

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that the Ukrainian GTS can replace supplies via Nord Stream,” Frolov explained.

In his opinion, the situation could change somewhat in the event of the launch of "Sohranivka" - then the pumping could be increased to volumes exceeding 100 million cubic meters.

m per day.

“However, even in this case, Nord Stream has more potential, since at full capacity it pumps over 160 million cubic meters.

m per day.

The difference is obvious, ”Frolov stated.

"Unacceptable" solution

Recall that in mid-July, Ottawa decided to transfer to Berlin a turbine manufactured by the Siemens concern for the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which was detained in Canada after repairs due to sanctions against Russia.

The move drew sharp criticism from the Ukrainian authorities.

On July 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Energy issued a joint statement in which they expressed disappointment with the decision of the Canadian leadership and urged him to refuse to return the unit.

And President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his video message, called Ottawa's decision "an unacceptable exception to the sanctions regime."

Later, on July 17, in another video message, Zelensky said that he had expressed his views on the return of the turbine to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally.

“I would like to note separately that Ukrainians will never accept Canada’s decision regarding the turbine for Nord Stream, which it was decided to transfer to Germany in de facto violation of the sanctions regime,” the Ukrainian president said.

At the same time, the transfer of the turbine to Berlin was approved in the West.

In particular, the United States came out in support of this decision on July 11.

“In the short term, the turbine will allow Germany and other European countries to replenish their gas reserves, thereby increasing their energy security and resilience,” the State Department said in a statement posted on the department’s website.

The step of the Canadian authorities was also welcomed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

He also stood up for Justin Trudeau, who was criticized not only from Ukraine, but also at home.

“The decision to send a turbine is hardly a service to Gazprom.

This is a strong signal of support for Germany and Europe, as well as maintaining solidarity among close allies in order to ensure long-term support for Ukraine.

How will weakened Germany and Europe help Ukraine?”

Scholz said in an interview with The Globe and Mail on August 1.

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

• AP

• © Markus Schreiber

"No one expected"

According to experts, the situation in which Canada and the EU countries find themselves because of their own sanctions demonstrates the ill-conceivedness of the restrictions imposed against Russia.

“This indicates a lack of elementary strategic thinking among the leaders of European countries, who cannot put two and two together and do not see cause and effect relationships.

For some reason, the Europeans decided that by such actions they would harm Russia, but did not pay attention to the fact that their own economy would be a much more severe blow, ”said Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of Moscow State Pedagogical University, in an interview with RT.

Political scientist Associate Professor of Moscow State University Boris Mezhuev agrees with his opinion.

In Europe, they did not expect that the situation with Ukraine would drag on and anti-Russian sanctions would begin to work against them, the expert said in a conversation with RT.

“Besides, all the hopes of the Westerners for the supply of energy resources from other suppliers collapsed.

In addition, no one expected that Russia would not be afraid of the prospect of blocking its energy supplies to Europe, but would be able to quickly reorient them to other markets, and even make money on it, ”the analyst emphasized.

According to him, after the introduction of restrictions, the West relied on a social explosion inside Russia, which would lead to the speedy surrender of Moscow's positions, but miscalculated.

“The sanctions war in the long term may have a negative impact on the Russian Federation, but as an instrument of tactical policy, it turned out to be absolutely useless and even backfired, hitting European countries,” Mezhuev added.

Now states like Canada have to backtrack on their sanctions, looking for plausible pretexts to bypass them and help the European Union, which is in an unenviable situation, Vladimir Shapovalov stressed.

“And for this you have to sacrifice your reputation.

After all, Canada is one of the most active conductors of the official position of Kyiv and the country that most consistently opposes Russia.

Now she has become a traitor in the eyes of Ukraine, which imagines itself to be the "conscience of Europe", but for its part can offer it nothing in return.

And these are the costs of the uncompromising political course pursued by the West today,” the expert summed up.