Nord Stream 2 to kill competition in European market through Gazprom's gas blackmail – Naftogaz

The implementation of the project for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine will gradually kill off competition in the European gas market through gas blackmail by the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom.

"We say that rules are rules. That is why the Ukrainians started the Revolution of Dignity. We looked at Europe as a region where people are really serious about values. It is not about money, but about the rule of law, justice, dignity and other things. Our position in arbitration was based on this, and that's why we won. Now we're saying that the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project violates European legislation and will lead to irreversible consequences. It will gradually kill the competition in the European gas market through Gazprom's gas blackmail," the press service of Naftogaz has reported, with reference to the statement of Chief Commercial Officer of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko, who spoke during the conference "Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute – consequences for Western Europe" held Thursday.

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UNIAN memo. The Nord Stream 2 project foresees the construction of two pipelines with a total annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas. It will run from Russia's coast to Germany across the Baltic Sea. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Earlier, Sweden gave permission for the operator company to lay the pipeline in its territorial waters. Denmark's decision is yet to be announced.

Ukraine vehemently opposes the project.