Germany’s new government will have to “take another look” at the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline because it’s a “strategic project” aimed at putting Ukraine under pressure, the incoming German vice-chancellor has claimed. Speaking to Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, Robert Habeck explained his belief that the pipeline was “never …
Read More »Merkel in Warsaw Reaffirmed Support for Ukraine’s Role as Gas Transit Country
German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to soothe fears over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s role as a gas transit country. In particular, this was discussed during a joint press conference between Merkel and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Reuters reports. “I made clear that …
Read More »Nord Stream 2 Construction Completed, but Ukraine Pledges to Continue Fight
Ukraine has said it will continue to fight against the Nord Stream 2 after Russia announced the gas pipeline was completed. The Kremlin said the pipeline, which runs from Russia to Germany, should be put into operation “as soon as possible”. The controversial project, which began in April 2018, has …
Read More »Putin Says Russia Intends to Maintain Gas Transit via Ukraine after 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is ready to maintain gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine after the current gas transit contract ends in 2024. The remarks came during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s trip to Moscow, which is likely to be the last in her capacity as chancellor as she …
Read More »Merkel Says Russia-Ukraine Transit Accord Must Be Extended
Chancellor Angela Merkel reinforced her pledge to ensure Russian gas flows through Ukraine, an economic lifeline for the former Soviet republic threatened by the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany. A gas-transit accord between Russia and Ukraine must be extended “as quickly as possible,” Merkel said at …
Read More »Moscow does not Seek Suspending Gas Transit via Ukraine after Nord Stream 2 Launch
Russian gas supplies through Ukraine will continue as long as relevant contracts are in force, as Moscow does not pursue the goal of suspending the supplies after commissioning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Economic Cooperation Director Dmitry Birichevsky said in an interview with Sputnik. “The …
Read More »European Parliament Suggests Halting Gas Purchases from Russia in Case of War with Ukraine
The European Parliament suggests halting oil and gas purchases from Russia and disconnecting it from SWIFT in case of “invasion in Ukraine.” Such statements are contained in the final draft resolution on Russia posted by the European Parliament on Thursday. The European Parliament “underscores if such a military build-up were …
Read More »Germany Considers Shutting Down Nord Stream-2 if Russia Stops Gas Transit through Ukraine
The German government is considering the possibility of establishing a mechanism which will allow shutting down the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline if Russia reduces gas transit through Ukraine, reported German newspaper WirtschaftsWoche citing sources. According to the newspaper, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas are not considering the …
Read More »Ukraine’s Gas Storage at Record-High Levels
Ukrainian natural gas storage levels are currently 80% higher than the same period last year, state-run gas transmission operator Ukrtransgaz said on Tuesday. The company said that as of March 31 there were 15.9 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of natural gas in underground storage. This is one of the highest …
Read More »Poland to Supply US Gas to Ukraine
Poland will transport 6 to 8 billion cubic meters of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year to Ukraine in a deal that will help reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas. The deal should begin delivering the required natural gas in two to three years but much depends on the …
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