Germany denounced Russia’s use of gas as a geopolitical weapon

Russian gas must not be used as a geopolitical weapon against UkraineThe German Chancellor said this Sunday in Kiev, Angela Merkel, when the Germans and the Russians complete the pipeline Nord Stream 2 which bypasses Ukraine and weakens this common transit country.

“We agree with the Americans that gas should not be used as a geopolitical weapon and in the end we will see it depending on the renewal [por Rusia] of the transit contract through Ukraine ” gas, said the German Chancellor.

Merkel, which performs a farewell visit to Kiev Before stepping down from power in the fall, he made the remarks during a press conference with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, two days after visiting the Russian leader Vladimir Poutine.

The Ukrainian president had estimated shortly before that the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 time “A dangerous geopolitical weapon of the Kremlin.”

“No one can deny that the main risks (…) will weigh on Ukraine”, added.

A controversial project

The A 1,200 km submarine pipeline that connects the Russian Baltic coast to northeastern Germany, will be able to send 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Europe, increasing the continent’s access to relatively cheap natural gas.

The Russian giant Gazprom has a majority presence in the project, valued at $ 12,000 million (10,000 million euros). The Germans also participate Uniper and Wintershall, French Engie, Anglo-Dutch Shell and the Australian OMV.

El Nord Stream 2 avoids the use of Ukrainian gas pipelines, which considers the flow of Russian gas as a source of influence and an indispensable financial boon. Gas transit tariffs add $ 3 billion a year to your coffers.

Ukraine, in conflict with Russia since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014, has also the fear that the pipeline eliminates a key mechanism to control Russian aggression and will be used by Russia to exert political pressure.

In previous disputes with Russia, Ukraine has seen its gas supply cut off several times.

Russia and Germany insist that Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project.

Germany, the main European economy, imports around 40% of its gas from Russia and believes the pipeline will help it overtake coal and nuclear energy from its energy matrix.

The suspicion of the USA

United States shares Ukraine’s concerns, as do several European countries, such as Poland and others who fear being too dependent on Moscow for their energy security.

However, Germany has promised the United States to pressure Russia to extend the gas transport agreement with Ukraine for ten years, which expires at the end of 2024. Germany has also agreed to warn Russia of potential sanctions. and financially support the Ukrainian energy sector to resolve the divisions between the two allies on the gas pipeline.

Under the current agreement, Gazprom will have to pay transit fees to Kiev until 2024even if you stop using Ukrainian pipelines.

The Republican opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden denounced the deal, saying it would reinvigorate Russian leader Vladimir Putin., but the US government has said it is too late to shut down the pipeline and the pact will yield good results.

Biden, who received German Chancellor Angela Merkel in July and is eager to rebuild transatlantic relations after Trump, lifted most of the sanctions on Nord Stream required by Congress. He said the pipeline is almost finished and it would be better to work with Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the lifting of sanctions as a victory for Putin.

Analysts saw the move as an olive branch in Berlin, which Washington needs to deal with other threats, such as the rise of China.

The US Secretary of State, Antoine Blink, called the conclusion of Nord Stream 2 a “fait accompli”.

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