- 23 Jul 2021 03:39
#15182176
You would think for that achievement Ukraine, and Ukrainians would forever owe gratitude to the German Bundeskanzler. But no, Ukraine is irate! Go Figure!
Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationalists are adamant that they want out of the Russian yoke. Yet an umblical cord in the form of gas pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe hitches Ukraine to Russia. How can Ukraine ever be truly independent as long as that umblical cord ties it to Putin? This where Frau Merkel steps in. Between the German Bundeskanzler and Russia's dictator a solution was hit on that will allow the disconnection of Ukraine from Russia by severing the pipelines. Give Putin another pipeline to Germany that bypasses Ukraine. This is the Nord Stream 2. It is almost complete. And the Kremlin is itching to start pumping as early as in months. There is no reason why Ukraine should suffer the indignity of noxious Russian gas coursing through its veins beyond this year.
So why is Ukraine not happy?
That is actually an understatement. It is more like Ukraine is incandescent! Apoplectic! Dark mutterings from Kiev about betrayals by Frau Bundeskanzler and senile Joe. From the shrieks coming from Kiev one is left with this image of Putin licking his chops in the darkened halls of the Kremlin, ready to pounce upon Ukraina. My impression is that Russia's stern, taciturn dictator wants nothing better than to be shackled to Kiev. It is a win win for both Russia and Ukraine, or it should be. Why should Ukraine want to continue doing business with the dictator in Moscow? Wasnt that what the Maidan was all about? A rejection of Putin and his Roubles in favour of EU and her Euros? Putin made a big offer pre Maidan which Kiev rejected. Why should Putin not pick up his noxious gas and contemptible Roubles and invest in Nord Stream 2?
Hardly had the ink dried on the seal on Nord Stream 2 by Frau Merkel and Putin, and Ukraine's gas chief Yuriy Vitrenko is in Washington DC protesting vociferously:
VOA Interview: Nord Stream 2 'Should Never Become Operational,' Ukraine Energy Company Says
VOA: Construction of Nord Stream 2 is almost finished. Do you think it is still possible to prevent its completion?
Vitrenko: Completion is a technical issue. The real question is for this pipeline to never become operational so that it does not transport gas to Europe.
VOA: Do you think it is possible to compensate Ukraine for the negative outcomes from Nord Stream 2?
Vitrenko: Can a country be compensated for facing critical threats to its security? Ukraine is the target of Russia's military aggression. We also say that the project is the symbol of Western corruption — it goes against Western values, so it discourages Ukraine from market reforms.
VOA: What is the primary threat that Nord Stream 2 poses to Ukraine?
Vitrenko: If physical flow of [Russian] gas through Ukraine stops, the risk of full-scale military aggression by Russia would go up substantially. Russia will expect nothing much from Europe beyond expressions of deep concern if the military actions do not have an impact on European consumers.
https://www.voanews.com/europe/voa-inte ... mpany-says
Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationalists are adamant that they want out of the Russian yoke. Yet an umblical cord in the form of gas pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe hitches Ukraine to Russia. How can Ukraine ever be truly independent as long as that umblical cord ties it to Putin? This where Frau Merkel steps in. Between the German Bundeskanzler and Russia's dictator a solution was hit on that will allow the disconnection of Ukraine from Russia by severing the pipelines. Give Putin another pipeline to Germany that bypasses Ukraine. This is the Nord Stream 2. It is almost complete. And the Kremlin is itching to start pumping as early as in months. There is no reason why Ukraine should suffer the indignity of noxious Russian gas coursing through its veins beyond this year.
So why is Ukraine not happy?
That is actually an understatement. It is more like Ukraine is incandescent! Apoplectic! Dark mutterings from Kiev about betrayals by Frau Bundeskanzler and senile Joe. From the shrieks coming from Kiev one is left with this image of Putin licking his chops in the darkened halls of the Kremlin, ready to pounce upon Ukraina. My impression is that Russia's stern, taciturn dictator wants nothing better than to be shackled to Kiev. It is a win win for both Russia and Ukraine, or it should be. Why should Ukraine want to continue doing business with the dictator in Moscow? Wasnt that what the Maidan was all about? A rejection of Putin and his Roubles in favour of EU and her Euros? Putin made a big offer pre Maidan which Kiev rejected. Why should Putin not pick up his noxious gas and contemptible Roubles and invest in Nord Stream 2?
Hardly had the ink dried on the seal on Nord Stream 2 by Frau Merkel and Putin, and Ukraine's gas chief Yuriy Vitrenko is in Washington DC protesting vociferously:
VOA Interview: Nord Stream 2 'Should Never Become Operational,' Ukraine Energy Company Says
VOA: Construction of Nord Stream 2 is almost finished. Do you think it is still possible to prevent its completion?
Vitrenko: Completion is a technical issue. The real question is for this pipeline to never become operational so that it does not transport gas to Europe.
VOA: Do you think it is possible to compensate Ukraine for the negative outcomes from Nord Stream 2?
Vitrenko: Can a country be compensated for facing critical threats to its security? Ukraine is the target of Russia's military aggression. We also say that the project is the symbol of Western corruption — it goes against Western values, so it discourages Ukraine from market reforms.
VOA: What is the primary threat that Nord Stream 2 poses to Ukraine?
Vitrenko: If physical flow of [Russian] gas through Ukraine stops, the risk of full-scale military aggression by Russia would go up substantially. Russia will expect nothing much from Europe beyond expressions of deep concern if the military actions do not have an impact on European consumers.
https://www.voanews.com/europe/voa-inte ... mpany-says