Merkel promises to keep gas transit through Ukraine after Nord Stream 2 is launched

Ukraine should keep the role of a transit country after 2019 when the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be put into operation.

"Germany insists that Ukraine should remain an important transit country. After the contract [between NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine and the Russian PJSC Gazprom on the transit of natural gas to the EU] ends next year, we should make every effort to breathe life into it again," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the 3d German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

It’s not an easy task as emotions sometimes prevail, Merkel admitted.

Nord Stream 2 does not aim to cut off Ukraine from its transit routes, the head of the German government believes. Despite the different assessments of the project, Germany strongly stands with Ukraine in its attempt to keep the gas transit, the German Chancellor assured.

Merkel also assured of Germany’s interest in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukraine.

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