Ukraine's parliament urges EU to prevent construction of Nord Stream 2

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has urged the European Union to take measures to prevent the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, with 233 lawmakers voted for the appeal.

"We expect the European Union to confirm Ukraine's strategic role as a partner state for gas supplies to the EU, which is of key importance to both sides. We also expect that the EU will take measures to prevent the construction of a politically motivated project for construction of the Nord Stream 2 transit pipeline, which threatens energy security of Ukraine and the whole Europe," reads the statement.

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At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada welcomed the decision by EU institutions to provide Ukraine with additional assistance by approving a fourth macro-financial assistance package worth EUR 1 billion, which should contribute to meeting the country's external financial needs and supporting reforms.

"We also call on the European Union to develop with other international donors a new integrated strategy for supporting Ukraine based on the ideas embodied in the concept of the European Plan for Ukraine," reads the statement.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Nord Stream 2 project is said to be laid near the already operating Nord Stream 1. The two new pipes will provide gas transit from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea totaling 55 billion cubic meters a year.

The construction completion of a 1,220-km long pipeline is scheduled for late 2019.

Ukraine has been fiercely opposing the project, emphasizing that it does not contribute to the diversification of gas supplies to the EU.

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In late March – early April 2018, Nord Stream 2 AG was granted the relevant construction permits from Germany and Finland.

On May 17, Peter Wagner of the Ukraine support group at the European Commission said that the EC was trying to ensure that Ukraine retain its long-term interests in gas transit in case Russia succeeds in building the Nord Stream 2.

Ukraine PM Volodymyr Groysman called Nord Stream 2 a new kind of hybrid weapon, called to put the EU in dependence of Russia, recalling that Ukraine offers the European customers a reliable energy supply route.

Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Lokke Rasmussen said that the country had all legislative instruments available to ban the pipeline's construction, but added that the issue should be resolved at the European level.