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In an interview with the German newspaper Rheinische Post, FW Steinmeier defended the gas pipeline project, saying that the fuel trade was “one of the last remaining bridges between Russia and Europe,” reports dw.com.
“I don’t think the burning of bridges is a sign of strength,” he said.
“There is another aspect for us Germans,” he continued, recalling that June would mark the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. According to FW Steinmeier, 20 million people died during World War II. civilians of the Soviet Union.
“There have been stages of a productive partnership, but even more: periods of terrible bloodshed,” added the German president. – This does not justify any of the current sins of Russian politics, but we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture. Yes, we live in difficult relationships, but there is a past and a future ”.
On Tuesday, FW Steinmeier’s office staff rejected Andrei Melnik’s allegations, saying the president’s words were “completely incomprehensible.”
“The text of the interview speaks for itself,” they said.
Maximilian Hess, a German political scientist and expert in Eurasian studies at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, emphasized on his Twitter account that the German president did not directly cover the events of World War II and the fate of the gas pipeline.
“Unfortunately, Steinmeier did not say THIS at all. He noted that the energy bridges are among the last to connect Russia and Europe and that they may not need to be demolished. Yes, the president said World War II and the invasion would be worth remembering, but he did not link his support for the Nord Stream 2 project to these historical events.
Sorry, but that’s NOT what Steinmeier said. He said that energy bridges are one of the few remaining bridges between Russia and Europe and that we must be careful when breaking them. He says that we should remember the history of the invasion and the war, but does not link it with the approval of NS2. pic.twitter.com/yJ5MRFO5nz
– Maximilian Hess (@zakavkaza) February 10, 2021
Warsaw: Nord Stream 2 cannot be the German “compensation” for WWII
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieckis on Thursday disputed the German president’s comments linking the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany with German crimes committed during World War II.
“While I agree with the German president that post-war debts have not been paid, Nord Stream 2 is not compensation,” Morawieckis wrote on Twitter.
“It is a step behind the back of Europe,” he said, calling the pipeline “an anti-EU project that could soon serve Russia’s aggressive policies.”
“Dependence on the EU, its economy and its security is increasing. It is time to stop it ”, emphasized the Prime Minister.
The accusations are shocking and outrageous for Kiev
FW Steinmeier’s “dubious historical arguments” cause “surprise and outrage” in Kiev, according to a note signed by Ukraine’s ambassador in Berlin, Andrius Melnyk, quoted by the DPA news agency.
The Ukrainian note claims that Nord Stream 2 is a geopolitical project of Russian President Vladimir Putin that goes against the interests of Ukraine.
“So it is cynical, especially in this debate, to use the Nazi terrorist regime and attribute the millions of people in the USSR killed by the German war machine only to Russia,” the note read.
Melnyk said in a statement that not mentioning the millions of Nazi victims in Ukraine, which at the time belonged to the USSR, was a “dangerous distortion of history.”
Ukraine is one of the staunchest critics of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The nearly completed pipeline is expected to deliver 55 billion euros a year to Germany. puppy. meters of Russian gas.
Kiev currently receives transit tariffs from Moscow for Russian gas transported to Europe through Ukrainian territory. Russia intends to reduce the volume of gas in transit next year.
Delfi provides a live translation of a much-discussed question and answer:
At some point, the conflict you describe becomes clear. What is your opinion on the completion of the Nord Stream 2 project? Are Germany’s interests more related to energy security or solidarity with the United States?
FW Steinmeieris: “Oh, to keep things that simple. But first, the dialogue with the new US administration on this issue (Nord Stream 2) has not even started. In addition, it must be borne in mind that due to the deterioration of relations (Russia and Europe) in recent years, energy relations are almost the last bridge between Russia and Europe. Both parties must consider whether the bridge is worth demolishing completely and irreparably. “
“I think that the demolition of bridges is not a sign of strength. How can we affect a situation that is completely unacceptable to us if we break the last ties? There is another aspect for us Germans: we remember the very turbulent relationship with Russia. There were stages of productive association, but even more: periods of terrible bloodshed. June 22 will mark the 80th anniversary of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. More than 20 million people died in the war. the inhabitants of the then Soviet Union. This does not justify any of the sins of current Russian politics, but we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture. Yes, we are living a difficult moment now, but there is a past and a future ”.
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