Naftogaz: Nord Stream 2 can be stopped
Putin wants the pipeline so he can invade Ukraine without economic consequences, says Naftogaz CEO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 up and running so he can invade Ukraine without economic consequences, the CEO of Ukraine鈥檚 biggest energy company Naftogaz has said.
The pipeline, which would take gas from Russia to Europe bypassing Ukraine, is built but not yet operating.
鈥淭he security dimension is more important than the economic dimension here,鈥� Yuriy Vitrenko told Hardtalk鈥檚 Stephen Sackur.
Mr Vitrenko said the Russian president wants to divert transit from Ukraine to Nord Stream 2 because 鈥渉e wants to be able to further invade Ukraine without any negative consequences on energy trade with Europe and with Germany in particular.鈥�
US President Joe Biden has said the pipeline will not go ahead if Russia invades Ukraine, but new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to explicitly rule it out.
More than 100,000 Russian troops have massed at Ukraine's border. Russia has always denied it is planning an attack. It says it is pulling back some of its troops from near Ukraine.
