Ottawa’s turbine return may weaken West’s unity against Russia: Rick Hillier

Ottawa has faced harsh criticism over its decision earlier this month to return six turbines to Gazprom for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that sees Russian gas flow to Europe.

A former Canadian chief of defence staff is warning Ottawa’s decision to return turbines to Russia’s Gazprom could be the start of western economic pressure easing on Moscow.

“This decision to send the turbines back … may be seen as the straw that broke the camel’s back, and we may start to see a relenting of pressure from NATO, from the West in general,” Retired Gen. Rick Hillier said, speaking to reporters Tuesday during a virtual news conference.

“Instead of going upwards and onwards with more and more sanctions, this might be the straw that causes it to turn downwards.”

Hillier, who served as the head of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) from 2005 to 2008, also said that Russia may see the federal government’s move “as a sign of encouragement” that other decisions will be made in the future that benefit them.

Ottawa has faced harsh criticism over its decision earlier this month to return six turbines to Gazprom for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that sees Russian gas flow to Europe.

The turbines had been in Montreal for repairs since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Canada and its allies have imposed severe sanctions on Moscow in an effort to cripple Vladimir Putin’s war effort, and the return of the turbines has been complicated by those sanctions.

However, recent pressure from Germany for their return to Europe was enough for Canada to make a “very difficult” decision to return them, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on July 13.

“Canada remains one of the strongest allies and friends to Ukraine (and) we’re not alone: countries in Europe, particularly Germany, have stepped up massively in their support of Ukraine as well, and we need to hold together — particularly (when) faced with the attempts by Russia to weaponize energy policy, to divide us among ourselves,” Trudeau said.