CNN reported on the cancellation of Zelensky’s meeting with the German Foreign Minister because of the Nord Stream-2
Photo: Dado Ruvic / Reuters
The meeting of German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was canceled due to different positions of politicians on the Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. CNN journalist Drake Tapper wrote about this on his Twitter account.
CNN version
Tapper, referring to “a source close to the Ukrainian government,” said that Nord Stream 2 was the cause of disagreements between Germany and Ukraine. Due to the lack of consensus on the Russian draft, the politicians did not meet on February 7, as planned. According to the journalist, the German Foreign Minister is not ready to abandon the launch of Nord Stream 2, even with Russia’s “invasion” of Ukraine. At the same time, she had previously threatened Russia with sanctions against the project during the invasion of Ukraine
Many in Eastern Europe and Kiev increasingly see Germany as an ally of Russia rather than an ally of the West. And they behave like this – look at the former Chancellor Schroeder
Drake Tupperjournalist CNN
In addition, the meeting was canceled due to Germany’s unwillingness “to provide Kiev with any military assistance directly or indirectly.” Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained this position with strict export restrictions. He recalled that Berlin has already sent five thousand military helmets to Ukraine as humanitarian aid due to the deterioration of the situation in the east of the country.
Comments from Germany and Ukraine
Berbock said that her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian planned to attend the meeting with Zelensky. However, as it became known later, he had other intentions.
Of course, in this regard, for my part, I adapted the schedule
Annalena Berbok Head of the German Foreign Ministry
In turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba urged not to regard the cancellation of Zelensky’s meeting with Berbok as a political signal. He made such a statement after communicating with his German colleague.
There are no problems with the meeting with the president, let’s not create some kind of conspiracy around this
Dmytro KulebaGlava of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Kuleba added that Kiev’s diplomatic life is now saturated with visits and telephone conversations, so Zelensky has a busy schedule.
The agenda of the meeting
It was assumed that Berbok and Zelensky would consider the issues of arms supplies to Ukraine from Germany. In addition, they planned to discuss military assistance to Ukraine from other countries or from international organizations that do not need German permission for this.
Zelensky is expected to raise the issue of armaments during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit Ukraine on Tuesday, February 8. However, Ukrainian political analyst Yuriy Romanenko expressed fears that after talks in Moscow with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Macron will bring initiatives that are unprofitable for Ukraine to Kiev.
The West about the “Nord Stream-2”
US President Joe Biden, following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on February 7, promised to stop the Nord Stream-2 during Russia’s “invasion” of Ukraine. In turn, Scholz added that Germany and the United States are acting in the same way with regard to the Russian gas pipeline.
France also announced its readiness to block the Nord Stream-2.
In Poland, it was assumed that Russia would get a monopoly on the Nord Stream-2 during frosts in the European Union. Journalist Andrzej Kublik believes that the country is using the “sudden crisis” in Europe’s energy sector “for its own purposes.”
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged to stop politicizing the Nord Stream-2. The Agency requested the European Commission to certify the pipeline “in strict accordance with the applicable regulations.”
