The turbine is part of Nord Stream-1 (NS-1) gas pipeline between Russian and the EU, and was getting repaired in Canada. Western sanctions precluded the turbine’s return to Russia, giving Putin a pretext to drastically reduce gas supplies to Europe, the chancellor said.
“Russia used this turbine as a pretext to halt previously agreed-upon gas exports,” said Scholz.
Read also: Canada’s Finance Minister defends transfer of Nord Stream turbine to Germany
“Thanks to (Canadian PM) Justin Trudeau, we were able to call Putin’s bluff. We never believed he cut gas supply due to technical reasons… Russia sought to blame Western sanctions for cutting natural gas supplies (to Europe).”
Now that the turbine is being returned to Russia, the Kremlin no longer has an excuse to shirk its contractual obligations, according to the chancellor.
Read also: Germany could nationalize part of Nord Stream 2 pipeline
Scholz also said he doesn’t think Russia would choose to increase gas transit through Ukraine while NS-1 was unavailable.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
