During the visit to Kiiv, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor mentioned that her country is ready to apply new economic sanctions on Russia if Moscow uses the North Stream-2 gas pipeline as a foreign policy weapon.
Official Berlin and Merkel personally supports this project, but also urges that the gas transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia will be extended after 2024.
At a joint press conference with Merkel, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, reaffirmed his position that “North Stream-2” is a purely political project that is dangerous not only for Ukraine but also for Europe.
Sergey Lavrov, The Foreign Minister of Russia, also referred to the topic of the new pipeline connecting Russia to Europe in an interview with a Hungarian newspaper, mentioning that "North Stream-2" will strengthen Europe's energy security.
"We do not refuse to fulfill the existing agreements on the supply of Russian gas to Europe, but in the future transit countries will have to compete for transit", said Lavrov.
The start of Ukraine's membership process in European Union (EU) is unlikely in the coming years. Valdis Dombrovskis, the Vice President for Economic Affairs of the European Commission announced.
He explained it by the political situation in the European Union.
