UWC calls on EU to reject Nord Stream II pipeline project

Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij has stated that the construction of the Nord Stream II pipeline will only give the Russian Federation more tools to influence on political affairs of the European Union countries.

“The Ukrainian World Congress urges the European Union to heed this incident as a warning on the danger of proceeding with the Nord Stream II pipeline project that will only give the Russian Federation more tools with which to blackmail the West and use gas even more effectively as a political weapon, creating a more dangerous and unstable energy situation in Europe,” he said.

Czolij also condemned Russia’s attempt to use “gas weapon” against Ukraine, by stopping the supply of pre-paid gas to Ukraine from March 1. “The UWC also commends the Ukrainian people who played a key role in helping the country to avoid an energy crisis by responding to calls from the Ukrainian authorities to turn their residential heating down by one degree,” he said.

In addition, Czolij noted the importance of reducing the energy dependence on Russia which “grossly violates international agreements, including the UN Charter, Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and Minsk agreements, and openly ignores the principles of peaceful coexistence”.

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