Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Sunday in a telephone interview with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Ukrainians would never accept Canada’s decision to return turbines to Germany “in violation of the sanctions regime” against Russia.
It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Canada’s decision last week to allow the return to Europe of turbines repaired in Canada and destined for Russia’s Nord Stream gas pipeline. Volodymyr Zelensky strongly criticized this decision, considering it “unacceptable”.
In his daily statement posted on the presidential website, Zelensky says he told Justin Trudeau that “Ukrainians would never accept Canada’s decision on Nord Stream turbines.”
“It’s a sanctions compliance issue. If there is a violation now, it won’t be long before there are others,” the president added, accusing Russia of gas blackmail and noting that there were other ways to get the gas Russian will arrive Europe.
“An issue of sanctions compliance”
Ukraine’s president was less specific in a post-conversation tweet, saying, without directly addressing the turbine issue, that the international stance on sanctions should “be principled” and that pressure on Moscow should be increased rather than to lighten up
Ottawa justifies its decision, which exempts these turbines repaired in Canada from the economic sanctions imposed on Russia, by the need not to compromise the energy supply of Europe and Germany in particular.
Source: BFM TV
