Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Robert Habeck, co-chair of Alliance 90 / The Green Party, to discuss the risks associated with the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project.

“Volodymyr Zelensky and Robert Habeck agreed that this was a geopolitical and not an economic project,” the president said Press service reported on Monday.

The two also discussed the unfolding of the German federal election campaign. Volodymyr Zelensky noted the positive dynamics of the party’s electoral support and expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation with all German political forces, including the 90 Alliance / Green Party.

Read also‘Hybrid War Tool’: Rada urges US to shut down Russia’s Nord Stream 2The Ukrainian leader thanked Germany for its continued support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and welcomed Robert Habeck’s decision to visit the line of contact in the east of the country.

“I very much appreciate your decision. You will be able to see with your own eyes the true picture of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. I hope that what you saw in the Donbass will help to strengthen the position of your political force in favor of Ukraine, “said the president.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Robert Habeck also discussed Ukraine’s European integration.

During the discussion on cooperation in the field of energy, the parties expressed mutual interest in the implementation of joint projects in support of the European Green Deal, as well as in the framework of the energy partnership between the ‘Ukraine and Germany.

Nord Stream 2: Background

• The Nord Stream 2 project involves the construction and operation of two pipeline branches with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect the Ust-Lug in Russia and the Greifswald in Germany.
• This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built alongside the existing Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. Construction of the pipeline was expected to be completed by the end of 2019. The pipeline will be 1,220 km in length.
• Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is the founder of Nord Stream 2 AG.
• The project is funded by European companies – ENGIE in France, OMV in Austria, Royal Dutch Shell, as well as Uniper and Wintershall in Germany.
• Ukraine opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2 because it will most likely lose its status as a gas transit country, while its potential revenue losses are estimated at $ 3 billion per year. The project is also heavily criticized by the United States, Poland and the Baltic States.
• The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is already more than 90% complete.
• The United States has imposed a series of sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and has repeatedly called on European allies and private companies to stop related work.
• On January 7, 2021, a fund was established in Germany to support the completion of the Nord Stream 2 project.
• Eighteen companies have either refused to participate in the project or are considering doing so due to the sanctions.
• On February 6, 2021, Nord Stream 2 AG announced that it will continue to lay the pipes as part of the project.
• On March 14, 2021, the Executive Vice-President of the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, declared that Europe does not need the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Despite this, Germany continues to insist on the completion of the project.
• On March 19, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on companies involved in the construction of Nord Stream 2 to immediately stop piping, threatening further sanctions.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline a trap for all countries in Europe.
• On April 20, 2021, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Ukraine should remain a transit country for Russian gas to Europe, despite Germany’s decision to complete construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
• In early May, the German Union for the Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity (NABU) and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany) filed a complaint with the Hamburg Administrative Court against the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the economic zone exclusive from Germany.
• On May 17, 2021, Germany authorized the construction of the Nord Stream 2 to continue in its waters.

Translation:

Yevgeny Matyushenko