Ukraine preparing to respond to Germany's plan to help construct Nord Stream-2
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is preparing a response to Germany's intentions to participate in the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, as stated in the comments to LB.ua by the Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for European Integration and Deputy from Petro Poroshenko Bloc, Maria Ionova.
"We have already discussed this issue (Germany’s permission to build Nord Stream 2) and I can say that on behalf of the parliament we will once again make a statement regarding this. However, I am convinced that this is not the end of the story with Nord Stream 2. There is no reaction from the European Parliament. Naturally, Germany's position in this context is important but without the consolidated position of the EU, the implementation of this project is impossible," she said.
Ionova was at the talks in Geneva when she made the statement and she further assured the public that Ukraine would continue to raise the Nord Stream 2 issue during negotiations with their European colleagues.
The first Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety and People's Deputy from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Olha Belkova added that the members of the committee have already approached NAK Naftogaz for more detailed information.
"For now, we see information only from the company Nord Stream 2 AG itself, whereas last week the European Parliament decided that the project should comply with all norms of the third energy package. This means that the project itself can be implemented on terms that will never be acceptable for Russia. That’s why it's early to [declare the issue resolved] when official statements are made only by Germany. We can talk about preparing Ukraine’s official response," she told LB.ua.
On March 21, the US notified the companies working with Nord Stream-2 about the threat of sanctions.