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Before traveling to Moscow: gas manager fears Russian attacks on pipelines – Baerbock emphasizes willingness to engage in dialogue

2022-01-17T06:36:18.434Z


The head of the Ukrainian energy company expects attacks on gas pipelines in the event of a Russian invasion. Foreign Minister Baerbock is "determined to react" should Moscow escalate the situation further.


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Foreign Minister Baerbock: "Ready for a serious dialogue on mutual agreements and steps"

Photo: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / EPA

Amid the serious tensions in the West with Russia, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is making her first visit to Kiev and Moscow.

Before leaving for the east, Baerbock campaigned for a diplomatic defusing of the crisis: "We are ready for a serious dialogue about mutual agreements and steps that will bring more security to everyone in Europe, including Russia."

However, Baerbock said that no compromises could be made on basic principles such as territorial inviolability, the free choice of alliances and the renunciation of the threat of violence.

One is "determined to react" if Russia goes the way of escalation.

However, the minister did not name specific punitive measures.

Baerbock will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Monday.

A meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled for Tuesday in Moscow.

Gas manager Vitrenko: »The first bombs will be aimed at the pipelines«

The head of the Ukrainian energy group Naftogaz, Jurij Vitrenko, meanwhile expressed concerns to the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that after the German-Russian Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2 went into operation, no more Russian gas would be routed through Ukraine.

"We are 100 percent sure that Nord Stream 2 has the sole purpose of shutting down Ukraine in gas transit."

Putin is preparing a military invasion, but wants to make sure "that there are no negative consequences for trade with Europe," Vitrenko said.

The manager warned that in the event of a Russian invasion, gas transit through Ukraine would be stopped first: "The first bombs will be aimed at the pipelines."

Traffic light coalition split over Nord Stream 2

Nord Stream 2 is completed but not yet operational.

Many of Germany's allies fear that this will increase dependence on Russian gas.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) recently emphasized that it was a commercial, not a political project.

Baerbock and the Greens, on the other hand, are critical of the pipeline.

Before her departure, the minister did not comment explicitly on the energy project.

She will listen carefully to her interlocutors, "but also explain in all clarity the position that we in the EU, in the G7 and in the transatlantic alliance represent," said Baerbock.

No talks about Ukraine would bypass Ukraine.

Baerbock wants to revive the Normandy trial

The Foreign Minister announced that she wanted to "sound out locally whether there is a willingness to find solutions through diplomatic channels - above all, to breathe life into the Normandy process again and finally make progress in implementing the Minsk agreements."

In the Normandy format, France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are trying to resolve the conflict that has been going on for almost eight years.

Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of repeatedly violating the Minsk peace plan.

According to UN estimates, more than 13,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government troops and Russian-backed separatists in Donbass since 2014.

Because of massive Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border, the West is concerned that Moscow could soon launch an invasion of the neighboring country.

Kiev's ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, recently called for binding support from Germany.

Germany must promise Ukraine the delivery of weapons for national defense, Melnyk told the dpa news agency.

The reluctance or rejection of armaments aid is "very frustrating and bitter," said the ambassador.

fek/dpa/Reuters

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-01-17

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