Nord Stream 2 pipeline is new type of Russian hybrid weapon against EU countries – Groysman

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman considers the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as another type of Russian hybrid weapon against European countries.

He stated this during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava today, the Government portal reported.

"We are considering Nord Stream 2 not just as a gas transportation system project but as a new type of Russian hybrid weapon against European countries. Of course, Ukraine and Slovakia have the right and should maintain the status of transit countries, but with this status we guarantee safe gas supplies to European countries," Groysman said.

The prime minister reminded that Slovakia had been among the first countries to lend a helping hand to Ukraine in energy issues. "Russia will never pay efforts to secure the transit through the third route. Instead, Ukraine and Slovakia can provide it via Ukrainian GTS," he noted.

In turn, Peter Pellegrini stressed that Slovak companies were interested in participating in the work of the future consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas transit system and planned to participate in the reconstruction of GTS.

"We reject Nord Stream-2 project. This will be a way to bypass Ukraine and Slovakia, and it will exert a negative impact on both countries. And our countries - Ukraine and Slovakia - want to continue the transit of gas. I am very pleased that Ukraine wants to create a consortium for GTS. Slovak companies want to participate in the reconstruction of GTS," Pellegrini said.

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