RUSSIALINK: “Poroshenko, Merkel admit disagreements on Nord Stream 2” – Interfax

Gas Flame file photo

KYIV. April 12 (Interfax) – Ukraine and Germany still have some disagreements concerning Russia’s plans to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshoenko said.

“So far, Germany is committed to defending Ukraine and ensuring security. We so far see mechanisms to protect this security in different ways: Map of GermanyGermany is guaranteeing a certain amount of [gas] pumped [through the Ukrainian gas transport system], and we see this as the termination of this gas pipeline’s construction,” Poroshenko said at a joint news briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday.

Ukraine sees this project as one having “a substantial political tinge” and as a threat to the country, he said.

“Our negotiations in Germany in this sphere are continuing,” Poroshenko said.

Nord Stream 2 is not a new subject in discussions between Ukraine and Germany, or between Ukraine and the European Union. “We firmly declare that we haven’t ended our campaign to stop the Nord Stream 2 construction and to offer German companies a share in managing the Ukrainian gas transport system,” Poroshenko said.

Merkel said strategic partnership between the two countries may ensure certain disagreements.

Ukraine should remain a country via which gas is transported, Merkel said. She said she had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Nord Stream 2 would not leave Ukraine without gas transport.


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