Russia’s pipeline project to pump gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea is a bad deal for Europe as it would destabilise Ukraine, United States Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
Advertisement
“To lock in great reliance on Russian Federation will fundamentally destabilise Ukraine”, Biden said, adding: “Europe needs diverse sources of gas”.
Western partners in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline extension to Europe are examining funding alternatives after Poland’s cartel office recently blocked its clearance, Reuters reports. “The only thing of interest to me is whether the pipeline dries up or not”, Fico said.
He added that the Nord Stream 2 was the key issue discussed at the recent negotiations, as the implementation of the project could deprive Slovakia of an estimated 800 million euros (some $900 million) per year in gas transit revenue.
Eustream said in June it had assurances from Gazprom that the entry point from Ukraine to Slovakia would remain fully functional even if Nord Stream 2 is built.
Gazprom, one of Russia’s major state-run energy companies, originally agreed to build the pipeline in partnership with several European firms a year ago, but Gazprom just can’t seem to catch a break. It is created to double the amount of gas Russian Federation pumps to Germany, via the Baltic Sea. “No country should be able to use energy to coerce policies or actions from other nations”, Biden said, in a veiled reference to Russian Federation, which has on several occasions cut off gas supplies to Ukraine amid disputes.
Advertisement
The EU has yet to rule on whether the pipeline would run up against its antitrust rules.
