13:51 02.07.2016

Ukraine suggests discussing risks of Nord Stream 2 for Europe – Kobolev

2 min read
Ukraine suggests discussing risks of Nord Stream 2 for Europe – Kobolev

Ukraine suggests holding an open debate and discussing the risks of Nord Stream 2 construction for Europe, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev said on Channel Five on Thursday evening.

"The countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe were opponents of this project. Italy has recently come into line with the countries mentioned above. We hope that it is the position of these countries and open debate and discussion of the risks that this project poses to Europe and the EU will allow us to stop the process," Kobolev said.

According to him, a number of European countries are ready to make a concession to Russia for the implementation of the project in exchange for economic and geopolitical benefits, but it carries the risk of destruction of the direct route of gas delivery from Russia to Europe through Ukraine.

"The Russian Federation banally offers them political bribes in exchange for permission or cancellation of the confrontation to the Nord Stream 2 construction ... If the pipeline is built, then the direct route of gas supplies from the Russian territory through Ukrainian territory to Europe will be destroyed. It will stop many pipelines in Eastern Europe and create discriminatory conditions not only for Ukraine," the Naftogaz CEO said.

Kobolev also stressed that it is very important for Ukraine to demonstrate Europe the execution of the assumed obligations in terms of gas market reform, GTS allocation and willingness to attract a foreign partner for its management.

The project foresees the creation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline system with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

The participants of the Nord Stream 2 consortium are Gazprom, German BASF and E.ON, French Engie, Austrian OMV and English-Dutch Shell.

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