VOA Interview: Nord Stream 2 'Should Never Become Operational,' Ukraine Energy Company Says

Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline project designed to double the volume of Russian gas delivered to Germany via the Baltic Sea, continues to be a contentious topic in U.S.-European relations. It was hoped a statement issued by U.S. and German officials on Wednesday would ease tensions, but it instead drew resistance from some members of the U.S. Congress and criticism from Eastern Europe.

The joint statement followed last week's summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who agreed to disagree on the pipeline. Germany sees it as a business project, and the U.S. sees it as a Kremlin geopolitical endeavor. The statement vows to ensure that Russia will not misuse the Nord Stream 2 "to achieve aggressive political ends by using energy as a weapon." It also pledges support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security through investment in sustainable energy development. Germany also committed to help Ukraine negotiate an extension of the Russian gas transit treaty — about 18% of the European Union's annual natural gas consumption comes from Russia via Ukraine —  and promises to respond if Russia uses the pipeline to pressure Ukraine. VOA on Wednesday spoke with Yuriy Vitrenko, head of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz. Vitrenko was in Washington this week to explain Ukraine's concerns about the new pipeline.