Germany: Ukraine should not be afraid of Nord Stream 2
Berlin is ready to mediate in the talks between Moscow and Kyiv on the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, Michael Harms, executive director of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, told the press agency DPA.
Harms stressed that the main issue is the volume of gas that will be supplied through Ukraine after the implementation of the project.
He argues that Kyiv should not be afraid of a complete cessation of supplies, since the North Stream-2 will not immediately reach its full potential after it goes into operation.
“The German government can mediate, since Germany and the German economy play an important role in this project,” Harms said.
The Nord Stream-2 project involves the construction of two lines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Pipes will be laid from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany, next to the current Nord Stream. Some EU countries, including Ukraine, are opposed to the project.
Construction of the German section of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline has already started in Germany.
Finland also issued a full set of permits for the construction of the Finnish section of the Russian gas pipeline.