REUTERS
Russia's plans to extend its gas link to Germany run counter to EU interests and risk further destabilizing Ukraine, ten European governments said in a letter sent to the European Commission, Reuters reported.
"The letter, written on Thursday and signed by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, says the project should come under the closest regulatory scrutiny and called for "an inclusive debate" at next month's EU summit," according to Reuters.
A group of European companies are said to have signed an agreement with Gazprom in September to expand its Nord Stream pipeline to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Gazprom said it would halt gas deliveries to Ukraine while Kyiv said it could find cheaper supplies elsewhere.
Read alsoU.S. official: Europe's Nord Stream 2 poses risk to Ukraine The Nord Stream extension to deliver increased volumes of gas straight to Germany could have serious consequences for Ukraine and EU nations, as reported.
"Preserving the transport route through Ukraine is the strategic interest of the EU as a whole, not only from an energy security perspective, but also reinforcing the stability of the Eastern European region," the letter said.
"Ukraine is a safe transit route. Gas should continue to flow through Ukraine," European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete told reporters on Thursday.
Read alsoYatsenyuk: Russia eager to deprive Ukraine of $2 bln from gas transitIt is also noted that the Commission seeks to reduce the EU dependence on Russia, which supplies about a third of its energy.
In addition, world leaders have been urging Moscow and Ankara to avoid any escalation of tensions following the downing of a Russian jet by NATO member Turkey.