Ukraine must demonstrate its edge, especially financial benefit.
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| [Nord Stream 2] |
The Ukrainian government intends to continue fighting Russia's "Nord Stream-2" gas project. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary, Sergei Nikiforov, said Agence France-Presse(AFP). According to political specialists questioned by Russian media "MK," Kiev lacks pressure tools, and the only way out is to provide a competitive price.
“The President has constantly emphasized that Ukraine would oppose Russia's political initiative until it is completed, and even after gas shipments begin,” Nikiforov said.
The first deputy was not long ago. Oleksiy Kurchenko, head of the Ukrainian committee on energy, housing, and communal services, warned that once the gas pipeline is operational and gas transit rates are reduced, prices for the general public would rise.
Nord Stream 2's construction was finished on September 10th. Gas deliveries are set to commence on October 1st. Kiev was against the project, claiming that Russia will use gas to exert pressure on countries, particularly Ukraine. Kiev now wants to sue the European Union for compensation under the Association Agreement.
Because the problem is not limited to Nord Stream 2, there are no genuine measures in place. It is unclear when the gas will begin to flow through it, whether on October 1 or later. The issue is that there is Turkish Stream, which has already grabbed a part of transit, and the situation will deteriorate with the launching of Nord Stream, according to political expert Ruslan Bizyaev. - Austria, Italy, and other countries in southern Europe remain. As a result, we must discuss the potential for a trilateral consortium involving the supplier, Gazprom, the buyer, Europe, and the intermediary nation, Ukraine.
There are currently no other choices. If the new contract requires the pumping of at least 45 billion cubic meters, this will provide a partial solution to the problem. However, you must evaluate how much gas will be consumed in Europe, if it will expand, what type of contracts will be in place, and so on.
“Ukraine must demonstrate the benefits of the Ukrainian flow, especially financial benefits,” says Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS Countries. - There aren't any other choices. However, it should be noted that Gazprom is not refusing to transit via Ukraine; rather, it will do so in a lesser amount. Given the current rivalry for the Ukrainian streams "Turkish" and "Nordic," Kiev might consider making better offers to Gazprom.
In reality, through 2024, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to send at least 40 million cubic meters of gas via Ukraine. Of course, these aren't the 90 million cubic meters that were previously pumped.
What is Nord Stream 2
Nord Stream 2 is a new export gas pipeline that runs from Russia to Europe over the Baltic Sea and is 1230 kilometers long.
Source : MK.RU