Counselor of the U.S. Department of State Derek Chollet has denied that the U.S. administration had called on Ukraine to refrain from criticizing the Nord Stream 2 agreement.
On July 20, Politico reported that President Joe Biden’s administration urged Ukraine to “stay quiet” and “not make waves” as the U.S. was negotiating with Germany a “grand bargain” in exchange for greenlighting the controversial pipeline project.
According to the story, the Biden administration said that the U.S.-Ukraine relationship would be damaged if Ukraine, unhappy with its partners’ approval of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 project, would speak up about it. The alleged threat came weeks before President Volodymyr Zelensky first official visit to the U.S., planned for August.
Chollet, visiting Kyiv on July 21, denied the report.
“Ukraine is a democratic country, it has its own voice,” he said in an interview to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
He reaffirmed the U.S. desire for a close and constructive partnership with the “Ukrainian friends,” in which both sides would uphold common interests and values.
On July 20, it became known that the U.S. and Germany came close to an agreement over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which would supply Russian gas to Germany.
The deal would threaten sanctions and other retaliation if Russia tries to use energy as a weapon against Ukraine, according to a draft text obtained by Bloomberg News.
Both countries are also expected to announced investments that will contribute to the modernization of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to its energy security. Germany also intends to guarantee the supply of natural gas to Ukraine in the event of cessation of its supply from Russia.
Details of the deal could be announced in the coming days, Reuters reported.
“It will be a significant support to its (Ukraine) energy sector, which would guarantee energy security, efficiency and independence,” Chollet said.
Sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and its managing director Matthias Warnig, which were lifted by the Biden administration in May, will not be resumed, US media reported.
