Zelenskyy: Turbine transfer to Russia is a dangerous precedent
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO — MONDAY, 11 JULY 2022, 22:41
The President of Ukraine has called Canada's sanction concession to return turbines repaired by Siemens Canada for Nord Stream-1 to Germany a dangerous exception.
Source: the head of state in the evening address from Bankova
Quote from Zelenskyy: "Now there can be no doubt that Russia will try not just to limit as much as possible, but also to completely cut off the supply of gas to Europe at the most urgent moment. This is what we need to prepare for now, this is what is being provoked now.
Because every concession under such conditions is perceived by the Russian leadership as an incentive for further, stronger pressure. Of course, this one-turbine decision, which entails many problems, can still be reconsidered.
Russia has never played by the rules in the energy sector and will not play now unless it sees strength."
Background:
- In mid-June 2022, the Russian company Gazprom said it would cut the supply of natural gas through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 40 percent. According to the Russians, this was due to "untimely repair work by Siemens".
- Russia later said problems with repairs in Canada to turbines for the Nord Stream pipeline could lead to a complete stoppage of the project and "a disaster for Germany".
- German officials urged Canada to find a way to return the turbine, fearing that Russia would use the problem as an excuse to shut down Nord Stream 1 and hurt Germany's ability to fill its gas storage tanks before winter.
- The Ukrainian government has objected to Canada's intentions to agree to such a point-by-point lifting of sanctions on Russia and considers the decision "unreasonable and dangerous for the sanctions regime".
- The Canadian government agreed to make an exception to the sanctions against Russia and send the turbine, which had been undergoing servicing in Canada, to Germany.
