Russia has called on Germany and the European Union not to delay the licensing of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which has become the focal point of political disagreements between Moscow and the West.
It is anticipated that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which extends under the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, will double Russia’s natural gas export capacity to 110 billion cubic meters per year.
The project, which was designed under the leadership of the Russian state gas company Gazprom and was completed in September, disturbs the USA and other countries, including Ukraine and Poland, geopolitically. The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is not expected to be licensed before the end of the first half of 2022.
In a statement made by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was said, “The licensing process carried out by the German auditors and the European Commission should not be artificially protracted and politicized. The process should be carried out with strict adherence to existing rules.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who will travel to Moscow tomorrow (Tuesday) after her visit to Kiev. During the meeting, it is planned to discuss the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and Russia’s increase in its military presence on the Ukrainian border.
German Foreign Minister: “Pipeline Suspended”
German Foreign Minister Baerbock said on Monday that the pipeline is suspended, not in line with European energy laws.
Germany has been providing diplomatic support and assistance in the stalemate between Ukraine and Moscow since Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will pay a heavy price”
During his visit to Kiev, German Foreign Minister Baerbock said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba that he hopes the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine will be resolved through diplomacy, but that Russia will have to pay a heavy price if it attacks Ukraine. warned.
Baerbock said, “Every act of aggression will have heavy economic, strategic and political costs for Russia.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba also expressed their consensus on reviving the four-way peace talks in the format of “Normandy”, which will involve Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia, in order to end the war in the east of his country.
Ukraine, which was not included in the vast majority of talks last week, received assurances from its allies that no decisions about its future would be made without its own participation and consent.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said, “It is important for us to know that Berlin and Paris will not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, and that they will not play tricks behind our backs in relations with Russia. I would like to thank Annalena for her principled stance on this issue.”