Ukrainian FM backs discussion of Nord Stream 2, gas crisis in Normandy format

KYIV. Oct 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine believes that Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the military security of Ukraine, the situation in Donbas are directly related issues, therefore, Ukraine advocates their discussion in the Normandy format, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"Now negotiations in the Normandy format are held exclusively at the level of advisors to the leaders. After Angela Merkel’s visits to Moscow and Kyiv, two rounds of consultations and two videoconferences were held. The topic of gas was not discussed at them, but it directly puts pressure on the negotiators from outside. Ukraine believes that Nord Stream 2 and the military security of Ukraine, the situation in eastern Ukraine are directly related issues, so we advocate linking these issues and discussing them," Kuleba said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

The minister said that now, in the Normandy format, at the level of advisors, work is underway on an attempt to organize a summit, which Merkel wants to hold and is ready to hold while she is in the status of German Chancellor.

"In New York, during the UN General Assembly, my German and French colleagues Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian wanted to hold a meeting of foreign ministers in the Normandy format. I immediately agreed. But [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, as always, did not find the time and opportunity. Therefore, the situation is uncertain. If we were to hold a meeting of ministers, I would certainly take the opportunity of the meeting and raise the topic of how the gas crisis affects the security situation in Ukraine and in Europe as a whole," Kuleba said.

The Foreign Minister said that the gas crisis was created manually, "therefore, people understand that this is not some combination of factors that have come together, and this tangle must be resolved."

"Everyone understands the source of the crisis and who created it. Obviously, there is an opinion in Europe that a solution will be found with the Russian Federation and the issues will stabilize because even in the worst dreams, a Western European politician or businessman cannot imagine that Russia screws on them and allow their houses, factories and plants freezing," he said.

Kuleba said that we all see an artificially created gas crisis in Europe.

"It is superimposed on the acceleration of the green transition in Europe. We see an extraordinary situation in China, which is also officially explained by the green transition, the reduction in coal production. I do not rule out that the problems of our pipeline [GTS] can become only a small element of the general energy global crisis. Nord Stream 2 has not yet started working. This must be taken into account. And when gas will go through Nord Stream 2, despite all the victorious reports of Gazprom and Russia, it is not yet known," the minister said.