British Ambassador to Kiev Melinda Simmons has called on Ukraine to become more “energy independent” and give up gas from Russia
“Ukraine has an opportunity in the long term to even become a provider of, for example, green hydrogen. So for me this is the point where security issues can become an economic opportunity”, – the diplomat said in an interview with Ukraine 24.
Simmons also accused Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline of “weakening” Kiev. Notably, the diplomat said that it was impossible for London to impose sanctions against the pipeline. Restrictive measures should be used, she said, “given the circumstances”.
The construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completed on 10 September. According to Nord Stream 2 AG, the project operator, the first string of the pipeline has already been filled with technical gas. Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy Pavel Zavalny said that Nord Stream 2 is scheduled to be launched in early 2022.
Anton Bredikhin, a member of the UN Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that Kiev will obstruct the launch of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as long as possible, as it needs funds from transiting fuel through Ukrainian territory. According to experts, Ukraine will lose about two billion dollars.