German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline should complement the transit of gas through Ukraine, and not replace it, as this could provoke tensions.
“For me, Nord Stream 2 is an additional project, not a project instead of gas transit through Ukraine. Anything else would create a lot of tension. We are negotiating how we can make this clear together, ”Merkel said after meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington.1
Merkel noted that Germany and the United States have different views of Nord Stream 2, but agree on the future role of Ukraine in gas supplies.
“We talked about Russia and Ukraine in relation to Nord Stream-2. We have different assessments as to what this project entails. But I want to say clearly: our understanding was and is – Ukraine remains a transit country”, – the Chancellor emphasized.
At the end of 2019, Russia and Ukraine agreed to extend the transit of Russian gas through the territory for the period from 2020 to 2024. The contract provided for the transit of 65 billion cubic meters of gas in 2020 and 40 billion cubic meters annually from 2021 to 2024.