Alternative to Nord Stream 2 could be joint management of Ukrainian GTS – PM at meeting with Norwegian parliament president
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has discussed the fight against the implementation of Nord Stream 2 and Ukraine's role in transit of gas to Europe with President of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen.
The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine reported on Tuesday that this is a first visit of the President of the Norwegian parliament to Kyiv and the third visit of officials from Norway to Ukraine in the past three weeks.
Trøen said that she brought with her a strong delegation – comprising of three political parties of the Norwegian parliament.
"And by this, we emphasize our support for the process of reform and struggle that Ukraine continues against Russian aggression," Trøen said.
Groysman thanked Norway for the continued support of Ukrainian sovereignty and security issues. However, the security context extends not only to defense initiatives, but also to the economic sphere and the energy sector, the prime minister said.
"It is very important for us to see a stable democratic world in protecting democracy and rules of international law. And in this context, an overriding issue is Nord Stream 2 project. We are calling on the whole world - do not believe in the guarantees of Russia. You will not remember any guarantee uttered by Russian which is being enforced nowadays. The Budapest Memorandum, the latest decisions of Stockholm arbitration court on gas contracts... All of those are not fulfilled," Groysman said.
He said that Ukraine is concerned that this gas pipeline construction project is under way. He urged all countries to open their eyes and look at the impending threat.
Ukraine proposes joint management of the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS) as an alternative to the Nord Stream 2.
"And we are talking about an alternative - joint management of the Ukrainian GTS, which is reliable. Thus, we will all be independent," he said.
He said that the analysis of the situation and joint actions can prevent the threat of the Russian monopoly.
In turn, the president of the Norwegian parliament said that they "hear all the remarks" of Ukraine.
"And we support the idea that the role of Ukraine as a transit state should be preserved," she said.
Groysman praised the said position and said that Ukraine is currently undergoing transformations and implementing several very important reforms - from education and medicine to decentralization and combating corruption.
In turn, Trøen said that Norway stands ready to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine both in energy and reform issues that are currently being implemented in Ukraine.