Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ukraine demands investigation of supply of Siemens turbines to Crimea
Ukraine will demand that the German government and the European Union investigate and punish all perpetrators involved in the delivery of Siemens turbines to power plants in the annexed Crimea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, wrote in an article for the Evropeiska Pravda.
“The only way out is a frank and public investigation and punishment of all accomplices - legal, political and reputational. This is exactly what Ukraine will demand from Siemens, the German government, and European institutions. For many businessmen this scandal will be a serious lesson for the future," Klimkin stressed.
According to him, the supply of Siemens gas turbines to the annexed Crimea was not a fatal coincidence or an absolute surprise.
“After all, just as in the case with the Mistrals, Ukraine sounded the alarm. We warned Siemens, the government of Germany, and European institutions. We argued and we pointed out the weak spots in the sanctions policy. We were listened to and they were looking for ways to prevent offenses. Many similar cases were avoided,” Klimkin said.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister suggested that Siemens believed the Kremlin's promises that Ukraine would not stand by its demands, and sanctions would be canceled anyway.
“The Kremlin is frankly laughing at how easy it is to fool European businesses who are greedy for big money; law-abiding businesses built on trust, respect and values. Indeed, the Kremlin, through bribery, deals, and propaganda, constantly finds new Putin supporters in Europe, including Germany, Italy, Austria, France, and other countries. Those [supporters] are not interested in truth or facts, international law, or human rights. For them it is more convenient to pretend that the aggressor, who is waging a war in Europe, is one that can build a new security architecture on the continent. [They beliver] that together with this state, which is with one hand bombing children in Syria, and with the other providing cover for the criminal authoritarian regime, you can fight terrorism," added Klimkin.
He also stated that Ukraine will consider Siemens' actions as complicity in the aggression of the Kremlin regime against Ukraine. “European values are common for all. However fraud in Europe is one of them. If you deal with a fraud, be prepared for serious losses,” the Foreign Minister concluded.
In early July, electric turbines built by the German company, Siemens, were brought from the Russia to the annexed Crimea, bypassing sanctions, and causing an international outcry.