Berlin: Ukraine should modernize its gas transportation system to remain a transit country
Ukraine must ensure long-term transit of gas through its territory by modernizing its gas transportation system (GTS), said the official government representative Steffen Seibert at a briefing in Berlin, reports Ukrinform.
“Ukraine should reform its gas transit system in order to create conditions for the long-term transit of gas,” said Seibert.
He did not disclose the details of the conversation between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin last Saturday, in Mezeberg, stating they were “confidential.”
At the same time, the government representative reminded that Berlin’s position has not changed: Ukraine should retain the role of gas-transporter after the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, which in Germany is considered an economic project.
On August 18th, German Chancellor Angela Merkel,in a joint press statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the launch of the Nord Stream-2 project should not affect Ukraine’s status as a transit country.
Earlier it was reported that Germany allowed to build a portion of the Nord Stream-2. The Gascade Gastransport GmbH received permission to build a 272-kilometer section of the EUGAL gas pipeline- a land diversion from the offshore gas mainline.