German Chancellor Angela Merkel | Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images
Ukraine is no longer a major transit hub for Russian gas as Nord Stream 2 becomes a reality.
Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst
Ahead of Monday’s meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, it was revealed that he would ask his German counterpart to either stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany or pay compensation to Ukraine if it loses its status as a major transit country. This is an audacious request considering Ukraine is a leading country in attempting to pressure and contain Russia, but simultaneously does not want to lose its status as a key transit country between its eastern neighbor and Central Europe.
Although the Nord Stream 2 company expects the construction of the first branch of the gas pipeline to be completed by the end of August, and considering that 98% of the work has been completed already, Ukraine’s elite still believe there is a possibility of stopping it. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine even believes that the news of the pipeline being almost finished is just “speculation” and is convinced that Nord Stream 2 can be stopped at any stage.
German media do not rule out the possibility that Berlin could offer Ukraine billions to repair the failed gas network in the country in order to smooth out disagreements with Washington over Nord Stream 2. As compensation, one of the options mentioned is support for the production and export of Ukrainian hydrogen fuel.
Investing in the Ukrainian gas system also poses many issues, especially since alternative pipelines run through Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria to reach European markets. The countries further west in Europe, like France and Spain, do not particularly need pipelines. France has nuclear energy and it is easier for Spain and Portugal to be supplied with liquefied natural gas. For these factors, especially with more pipelines reaching the Balkans, there is no real need for the overhaul of the Ukrainian gas system.
Certain quantities of gas will continue to go through Ukraine because of the agreement between Moscow and Kiev on the transit of Russian gas to Europe until 2024. The possibility to extend the agreement after 2024 is not ruled out, but will certainly be weaponized by Moscow if Kiev continues to maintain hostile policies. Because gas consumption has increased, Ukraine may be used as a reserve source if gas suddenly runs out somewhere.
Overhauling the Ukrainian gas system would have been four times cheaper than building two new branches of Nord Stream 2. However, as Kiev maintains a hostile policy against Moscow, Russia was forced to find alternate routes to deliver their gas to Europe. It is this contradiction that frustrates Kiev as it is their own behavior that has reduced their status as an important transit country. They now demand compensation from Germany despite their own policies putting them in the position of irrelevancy in the gas game. Germany now has almost all the benefits from a gas pipeline and can now sell gas to most of Europe.
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Ukraine will not be the only country to suffer from the Nord Stream 2 project. Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, who all maintain hostile anti-Russian policies, claim that the pipeline is a political project. Moscow maintains that the pipeline is an exclusively economic and commercial project. However, there is an undeniable political aspect to the pipeline as the most ardent anti-Russian countries in the European Union and NATO, the aforementioned Baltic States and Poland, will see Russia further integrated into European energy structures.
More importantly for the average European citizen, energy consumers will get cheaper gas through the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline than that from pipelines that go through the territory of other countries. This is because there is no need to pay for transit and there is less risk coming from individual countries, as was the case in 2009 when Europe froze because of Kiev’s blackmail attempt against Moscow.
Essentially, there is nothing that can stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, especially as it is only a matter of days until gas starts flowing through it. Zelensky can complain to Merkel and Germany as much as he wants, but the reality is that the Nord Stream 2 project will be completed and Ukraine will be bypassed as the main transit country for Russian gas to reach European markets, and they only have themselves to blame for losing out on desperately needed billions of dollars in transit fees.
Good luck with that you Nazi scumbag.
One aspect of the US’s hate for the NS2 project, when NS2 is completed + operational the Gas will be traded completely in EUR like thru NS1. Their lackeys Poland + Ukraine are no longer needed, no billions USD extorted in transit fees every year, no longer US stranglehold + leverage for blackmail extortion thru Gas imports, because they have literally their lackeys in their pocket. The transit contract with Poland for the Yamal pipeline to Germany expired last year and the ‘new’ transit contract with Ukraine expires in ’24. The vile racist hostility and constant betrayal sabotage backstabbing agitation hate/fear/war-mongering of the Baltic states, in- and outside the EU, is something different, neither NS1 or NS2 even touch their territorial waters + economic zones and they are no transit states at all, the projects had/have no effect in any way on them, what so ever – They acting solely as subversive disrupting terrorist proxies for their US Pimps.
Amusing to watch the pathetic antics of the irrelevant “eu” member nations. They produce nothing, relative to their populations, they innovate nothing. They contribute nothing in the international sphere.
By contrast, Russia, China & Iran are progressing at an incredible pace.
NK too.
You spelled the U.S. and Denmarkistan wrong…
The pretend to export abstract things like ‘freedoms’ ‘justice’ and ‘pluralism’ while in real sense they are exhausted looters, grabbers and colonizers. How pathetic, just like psychos claiming to be aligned with higher calling
You forgot major thing, Simon, which is “democracy”.
Specially when the EU-Junta [Commission + Council] scumbags babling about something like ‘Democracy’ blah blah….they are a Bunch of ILEGITIMATE UNELECTED Criminals – No EU citizen has ever voted for/against them because we are not allowed to – Democracy was/is NOT involved, a total No show.
Yet, they can not admit that the EU is not democratic
Yes, that one too bro. Only that the exhausted dinosaurs from across the Atlantic likes claiming “Democracy” as its exclusive invention and product. No country can have “Democracy” unless it is conferred or Conjured upon it(such a country) by US and is misaligned appendages; EU.
Even the creation of that EU-Dictatorship Monstrosity has absolute NO ‘Democratic’ legitimacy, it was Defacto a Two-Stage “Coup D’etá” [Maastrich + Lisbon Treaty] they framed it as phony ‘Treaties’ because no European Citizen would ever ‘Voted’ for this corrupt rotten neoliberal/globalist shitshow.
Good point. Speaking of psychos, the entire western system is designed to promote psychopaths either born or “created” through mind controlled abuse.
This is common in nato/eu countries. The .0001 percent hide behind the psychopaths created by Intel scum. Look at the pedoswine “prince” andrew from the UK. He “refuses” to cooperate with US government agencies.
The degenerate bill gates is likely related to the filth maxwell currently in prison. Both are zionist tools for the western deep state. Fronted imbeciles, expected to perform on demand.
The sore losers they are. The tiny Baltic statelets, wheeler-dealing Poland and dissilusioned Ukraine will now have to seek other ways of pushing their begging bowls. Russia seams ruthlessly focused on its businesses and NS2 revenue stream is nearly operational
There is no racism between same races, by stating this, you daflate the strugle of tens of thousand of black´s and africans in Europe.
And millions of white punks to Africa.
zelensky demands? A born comedian. Sadly, a nation of fools mistook him for a politician.
Ye nah ye, fyck you zelwnsky says German.
Now why would Germany want to pay Ukraine compensation? Remind me, who heavily invested in Ukraine and the transit system and who funds over 200 MEPs? So will German politicians keep £oro£ sweet or tell Ukraine to get lost?
Hey Zelensky … Crimea river !
TEP.
GOOD ONE! But they wont listen.
Western Europe’s demand for gas will outstrip in single pipeline capacity. All line will simultaneously be used at full capacity ultimately.
They can if they hook you up to a turbine, you windy old jensbag.
Germany should sue/fine Ukraine for price gouging and service disruption for the decades they had a monopoly on gas transit.
No NEED, because of that and their repeated blackmail + extortion attempts…the NS1 and NS2 Projects are born. They brought it on themselfs but self reflexion is not their strongsuit but playing the ‘victim’ and whining about it is really pathetic.
But they sanctioned Russia instead :((((
So Zelensky hasn’t given up on his comedy act? Thats good to know cuz when he is dumped by his Jew bankster masters he will need a new career to avoid starving…
Zellerboy and his monty python cronies have entered full tardy territory. Slow clap…
Jew doing what Jews do best.
Meanwhile in china- https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1415527961822863362
Indian beer = cow piss
wasn’t it Ukraine to threaten Germany to halt the gas transit? now, as Germany is rendering this threat worthless, Ukraine asks for compensation? Something is really wrong with these people!
Ukro-orcs are inbred retardz. Nuf said…
They are nazis. Obviously they have something wrong in their heads.
Too many decades of Russian subsidies has convinced these people they are very important.
You should see how stupid & ignorant they are in North America.
Zelensky is public figurehead of a grossly corrupt and failed state, he lacks the authority or credibility to demand much of anything from anyone. Period.
Zelenski demands….😂
A Real Clown!
Another Neo Con success story.