Ukraine can pump additional volumes of gas to Europe already today – Danilov

"We can provide additional gas pumping capacities already today. Apart from 40 billion cubic meters of gas provided for in the contract with the Russian Federation, our gas transmission system can provide additional 50-55 billion cubic meters and even more, if necessary," Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said, speaking at the 7th Ukrainian Gas Forum “Eastern European Gas Hub. Green Deal. Ukrainian Initiative", the press service of the NSDC informs.

He noted that energy sources were "used by some countries as a weapon", and gas became an "instrument of political influence" after 1991. Analyzing the situation with gas supplies to Europe, in particular, the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Danilov noted that the launch of Nord Stream 2 posed a threat to national security for Ukraine. He reminded that the NSDC meeting chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 22 had been held, at which a protocol decision had been endorsed to determine special conditions for transporting additional volumes of natural gas through Ukraine's gas transmission system to EU countries.

Danilov also assured the forum participants that energy security was a key component of the country's national security policy, reflected in the National Security Strategy and the Energy Security Strategy.

As reported, on October 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Bloomberg that Ukraine had offered Russia a discount on natural gas supplies to Europe to boost deliveries and ease the energy crisis in Europe.

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