In Germany, Nord Stream 2 is being built very quickly. These pipes are completely ready. Not far from here, they'll be covered with metal and sent to a pipe-laying vessel. At sea, they work without breaks, 24/7.
"I support the project and construction. Why would I be against it? It's necessary for power supply and good for the local economy".
And this pipe shows why Germany is interested in the project so much. This is another pipeline that will go overland. It'll be connected to Nord Stream 2. This pipeline will go through western Germany to the border with Czechia. They're going to transit gas via this pipeline to Czechia, Austria, and other EU countries that currently receive gas via the Ukrainian pipeline.
"Putin's goal is to cut Ukraine off to replace the Ukrainian gas pipeline system and thus weaken the Ukrainian negotiating position on other issues".
Nord Stream 2 undermined Berlin's reputation. It became clear that money beat economic principles, environmental requirements, political loyalty to the EU and Western partners, and even fear of war.
- That's it. There were far more people in Germany who said that they're in favor of Nord Stream 2. Are these final death throes? Kobylev hoards gas that is ours. So, we won't supply gas anymore, we're canceling all of the gas supply agreements with Ukraine, right? Or is this just a panic and everything got mixed up?
Yury Afonin, member of the State Duma for the Communist Party: Evgeny, the Ukrainian "princes" have a popular tradition to pump Russian gas into their storages and then use it depending on the situation — either blackmail the West before the upcoming winter by not supplying... It happens every year. I think that the situation is a bit different now. It's a bit different. They traditionally stock up on Russian gas and there's some discontent. Even speaking of PACE, I think that the reaction by the German MEPs, full of emotion, was really full of emotion, as they were sick and tired of their behavior, habits, and blackmailing Europe using gas issues. I think that they're sick and tired of U.S. handlers who tell Germany and other EU countries, not Poland and Ukraine which are U.S. satellites, guys, don't mention them, they're needed so far. But Germany has its own interests. It has its own economic interests, first and foremost. Of course, it shares some political interests with the U.S., given that there are NATO bases in Germany and that the U.S. is deploying its forces in Europe. But it has its own interests, so its interests are economic. They're sick and tired of the fact that Ukraine drags it into conflict with Russia and blackmails by economic means. That's why the reaction of people is absolutely understandable. They'll stock up on gas now, use it, probably won't pay as always and will try to cheat. This system is typical of Ukraine. It's not only typical of Poroshenko's era. The gas issue has always been the key one. The sooner we get rid of our dependence on transit, the easier it'll be to negotiate calmly, not using blackmailing and concessions. It'll be a real relationship. We'll build Nord Stream 2.
- So, the destructive plan of the Kremlin is to give up transit and refuse from Ukrainian services. You won't believe it but this is what they're afraid of.
- We should fully refuse them, complete the pipeline, and what should we do next? We spend huge money on the construction of Nord Stream 2 but it's necessary because we depend on oil and gas transit. Then we should build gas pipelines all over the country. Gas infrastructure isn't developed in 90% of Siberia. We should complete Nord Stream 2, preserve resources, and then work around the country.
