Deputy State Secretary of the U.S. David Hale noted the significance of energy issue in Ukraine and stated that this question was discussed at every meeting held today, as he said at the briefing broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.
“We discussed the energy sector at almost every meeting I had here, including the one with the Prime Minister. Every country in the world has to remember that energy security is almost as national security. Energy issues in that part of the world are very important for our interests, for our stability and security in Europe. Things which happen in Ukraine’s energy sector are connected with such energy issues as Nord Stream 2, which the U.S. blocks,” he stated.
As it was reported, the EU approved the text to the Gas Directive, which will be applied to Nord Stream 2.
It was reported that Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said Russia would keep gas transit to Europe through Ukraine after 2019 under certain conditions.
Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda urged the German government to give up on Nord Stream 2 construction. He insisted that the new pipeline would breach the current energy balance, posing danger to the energy safety of some countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Ukraine is adamantly opposed to the construction by calling it politically motivated and suggesting the EU to create a consortium with the involvement of European companies to manage the existing more efficient transportation route through Ukraine. A number of EU countries have expressed their disagreement with the Nord Stream 2 project in particular Poland and Lithuania.
