Within the framework of the Crimean Platform conference, a meeting was held between the energy ministers of Germany, the United States and Ukraine on the situation around the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction.
"Germany is very well aware of the strategic importance of Nord Stream 2 for Ukraine and takes Ukraine's legitimate concerns very seriously," German Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier said after a meeting on Monday, August 23. Prior to this, Altmaier and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm held talks with their Ukrainian counterpart German Galuschenko as part of the founding conference of the Crimean Platform in Kiev on assistance to Kiev in connection with
the Nord Stream 2 project.
The Ukrainian minister, in turn, said that at a meeting with colleagues from Germany and the United States, a detailed discussion of the issues and the threats that Kiev sees in the construction of a new gas pipeline from Russia to Europe took place. At the same time, an emphasis was placed on the need to prevent Russia from using gas as a weapon. “We discussed in detail the importance and possibility of ensuring the security of gas supplies, ensuring transit and steps that will provide guarantees to Ukraine in preserving its transit potential,” Galuschenko said.
In addition, the parties discussed in detail the application of the EU's Third Energy Package and the elimination of
Gazprom's monopoly on the energy market, as well as the problem of reforming the energy sector of Ukraine. At the same time, one of the issues is synchronization with the EU power system in terms of de-carbonization and technology, it is noted further.
US-Germany deal to complete Nord Stream 2 project
On July 21, it was reported that
Germany had agreed with the United States on the settlement of the conflict around the "Nord Stream - 2". Within its framework, Germany pledged to take action in the event of the Kremlin's attempts to use energy as a weapon against Ukraine, or in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Countermeasures will be aimed at limiting Russian energy exports to Europe.
During a
visit to Kiev on August 22,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel assured Berlin would advocate further sanctions against Moscow if the Russian authorities used the new pipeline as a geopolitical weapon. Merkel stressed the importance of Ukraine remaining a gas transit country beyond 2024. She pointed to Germany's desire for the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, which expires in 2024, to be extended as soon as possible.
