Canada: the decision to transfer the turbine to Gazprom has not yet been made, we are working on it
EUROPEAN PRAVDA — SATURDAY, 9 JULY 2022, 14:12
Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson said that the decision to transfer the Siemens turbine which is necessary for the resumption of full operation of the Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany has not yet been made.
As reported by European Pravda, this was stated by Wilkinson in a comment to the Canadian edition of La Presse.
"We are discussing this (issue) with the government of Ukraine and the Government of Germany, and this is not an easy issue," he said, noting that Ottawa is "between a rock and an anvil" and regardless of the decision, one of the partners will be offended.
Wilkinson explained that the Nord Stream gas pipeline supplies gas not only to Germany, but also to a number of other European countries, and Russia uses the turbine as an excuse to reduce gas supplies to Berlin and other countries.
He added that Canada "should be sympathetic to the fate of Ukrainians" and continue to fully support sanctions against Russia, but, on the other hand, "the purpose of sanctions is not to punish our allies and thus destroy the economies of Germany, Italy, Slovakia, and Austria."
"We are working to try to find a solution that will satisfy everyone," the minister concluded.
As reported by European Pravda, the Canadian government intends to coordinate with Germany to make a decision on exclusion from the sanctions regime for the supply of turbines for the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which will set a precedent for point lifting of the embargo at the request of the aggressor state.
The Ukrainian government is already aware of Canada's intentions to agree to such a targeted lifting of sanctions restrictions from Russia and considers this decision "unfounded and dangerous for the sanctions regime."
In July Germany officially asked Canada to approve the lifting of sanctions and unblock the turbine, because of which the pumping of Nord Stream was allegedly stopped. Sources of the Reuters publication noted that Ottawa seems to have approved the request.
