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Workers at the Nord Stream 2 construction site: "Effectively contain" threats
Photo: Anton Vaganov / REUTERS
After years of dispute, the USA and Germany have achieved a breakthrough in the conflict over the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Both countries published a joint statement. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) was relieved to have found a constructive solution with the USA. Germany and the USA want to support Ukraine in building a “green energy sector” and work to secure gas transit through Ukraine in the next decade. "As a transatlantic partner, we are firmly on the side of Ukraine," said Maas.
State Department diplomat Victoria Nuland said at a congressional hearing that President Joe Biden's administration continued to believe that Nord Stream 2 was "a bad deal" that would add to Europe's dependence on Russian energy. "This is a bad situation and a bad pipeline, but we have to help protect Ukraine and I feel that with this agreement we have taken some important steps in that direction."
On the other hand, there was clear criticism from Poland and the Ukraine. In a joint statement from the foreign ministries, both countries warned that this decision had "created a political, military and energy threat to Ukraine and Central Europe." At the same time, it increases the potential for Russia to further destabilize the security situation in Europe. "Unfortunately, the previous proposals to cover the security deficit cannot be considered sufficient to effectively contain the threats posed by Nord Stream 2," the statement said.
Moscow, on the other hand, praised the deal: "This agreement gives us the opportunity to finish the construction of Nord Stream 2 calmly and to fully commence operations," said Vladimir Jabarov from the Federation Council - the upper house of the Russian parliament - of the Interfax agency. At the same time, he set conditions for a possible extension of the transit agreement through Ukraine: Ukraine should prove itself as a "constructive partner". Under "normal conditions" nobody would put pressure on Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the Ria Novosti state agency that negotiations on a new transit agreement should only be of a purely "commercial character."
According to the government, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday - the topic was Nord Stream 2. Merkel is likely to have explained the breakthrough in the dispute with the United States to Putin.
The almost completed Baltic Sea pipeline is supposed to bring Russian gas to Germany - bypassing the Ukraine, which is dependent on the income from the gas transit.
The USA had massively criticized Nord Stream 2 for years, but now want to forego further sanctions.
The statement warns Russia against using energy as a political "weapon" - this is the biggest fear in the US.
The joint declaration by the USA and Germany states that it is in the interests of Ukraine and Europe to continue gas transit through Ukraine beyond 2024.
Until then, there is a contract between Ukraine and Russia.
The transit fees are immensely important for Ukraine.
ime / dpa
