Zhovkva: There is every chance to stop Nord Stream 2

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Ihor Zhovkva has said he believes that there is every chance to stop the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, and Ukraine will continue to negotiate with its Western partners.

According to Ukrinform, he said this in an interview with the Telegraf online news site when asked whether Ukraine plans to discuss compensation for Nord Stream 2.

"We are not talking about compensation. We are not trading in Ukraine's national interests. We are not trading in our energy security. Nord Stream 2 still has every chance to be stopped. The speculation that it is almost complete is exaggerated. It can be stopped at any stage - as it was suspended in 2019," Zhovkva said.

According to him, Ukraine will insist in talks with its partners that Nord Stream 2 is a threat not only to Ukraine, not only to countries in Eastern Europe, but also to countries that may become dependent on Russian natural gas and receive this project as a tool of blackmail. "It has very little to do with the economy, but instead it has a significant geopolitical component," Zhovkva said.

He said that this issue would also definitely continue to be discussed with U.S. President Joe Biden.

op