Extracts from Lords question for short debate on Ukraine - Dec 17
Tuesday, 18 December 2018 07:56
Viscount Waverley (CB):...Gas transit fees are a major source of
revenue. However, the contested 1,200-kilometre Nord Stream gas
pipeline, which will double the amount of natural gas flowing
directly to Germany from Russia, is one of several Russian projects
that circumvent Ukraine in order to give it access to its biggest
markets. This bypass infrastructure is part of Russia’s strategy to
weaken Ukraine economically and reduce its strategic importance for
the EU. Germany is effectively...Request free trial
(CB):...Gas transit fees are a major source of
revenue. However, the contested 1,200-kilometre Nord Stream gas
pipeline, which will double the amount of natural gas flowing
directly to Germany from Russia, is one of several Russian projects
that circumvent Ukraine in order to give it access to its biggest
markets. This bypass infrastructure is part of Russia’s strategy to
weaken Ukraine economically and reduce its strategic importance for
the EU. Germany is effectively supporting this strategy. Do the
Government express opinions to Germany about this or does the
Minister have a view he might wish to share with us? As an aside, I
add that commercial opportunities exist for UK interests. For
example, the Royal Mint called on me on Friday on unrelated
matters, but I was interested to learn that Ukraine is considered
to have great potential for that organisation...
(Lab):...How do we respond? Condemnation and calls for
restraint are not enough and a military response is clearly out of
the question, but Russia must pay a price. Sanctions are in place
but are a blunt instrument, although they do have some effect on
the Russian economy. Some call for the suspension of work on
the Nord
Stream 2 pipeline, one of whose objects is to bypass
Ukraine...
(Con):...As a country, we
have been very robust on the sanctions policy, but clearly European
countries are divided about to what extent they should be extended
further to Russia, given the latest abuses. Nord
Stream 2 is a great challenge to the Ukrainian
economy...
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con):...My noble friend
and the noble Viscount, Lord
Waverley, also asked about Nord Stream 2. We do not
believe Nord
Stream 2 is necessary and are concerned that its
construction is harmful to European interests and
to Ukraine. British officials regularly discuss this with the
German Government and other stakeholders, including to highlight UK
concerns at the impact of the project on gas transit through
Ukraine. We continue to support initiatives that strengthen and
diversify European gas supply...
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