Russia accuses U.S. of trying to push its gas into Europe
The United States is trying to push its gas into the European market, said First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy Igor Anansky, commenting on the words of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sandra Oudkirk that Europe may halt the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.
“The U.S. is again confusing politics with economics. All of America’s hopes are connected solely with the desire to prevent the cheapest gas from going to Europe and by attempts – using political pressure – to push its natural gas – which is several times more expensive than that which will come through the pipeline – [into Europe],” the deputy said.
According to Anansky, all the statements and “horror stories” that Nord Stream-2 is a threat to security are absurd, since Russia has never suspended the supply of gas to Europe.
The member of the Duma Energy Committee added that as long as Denmark does not agree with the construction of the gas pipeline, there is still the possibility that the project will be stopped. “If the country’s leadership thinks about citizens, it should understand that it is necessary to get through the red tape so that European consumers can begin to receive cheaper gas as soon as possiblen,” he concluded.
On June 18, Ukrainian authorities began negotiations with EU partners, whose goal is to create a single group to stop the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. “I will not disclose all the tools that we are using to stop the construction of the Nord Stream-2. But I would like to stress that it is a very important matter to us. I hope that the construction can be stopped,” said President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
In May, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke about “curtailing” the Nord Stream-2. “We must continue to use pressure to curtail the Nord Stream-2. We should not increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy supplies. If we are successful, we will be helping Europe stand on its own two feet,” he said.
Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea through the territorial waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. It will be more than 1,200 km long, and the total annual capacity will be 55 billion cubic meters. Sweden, Germany, and Finland have already agreed to the construction of the pipeline.
The construction of Nord Stream 2 will allow Russia to bypass Ukraine in supplying fuel to Europe, thereby removing this obstacle to aggression. He stressed that an energy threat posed by Russia to Kyiv is no less dangerous than a military one.