Wolfgang Kubicki, the deputy speaker of the Bundestag from the Free Democratic Party, which is part of Germanyʼs ruling coalition, advocated the opening of Russiaʼs “Nord Stream 2” gas pipeline to fill gas storage for the winter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called it "drug addiction".
Kubicki stated this in an interview with RND.
"We must open “Nord Stream 2” as soon as possible to fill our gas storages for the winter. There is no good reason not to open Nord Stream 2, he stated.
According to him, this will allow people not to freeze in winter, and enterprises not to stop work.
At the same time, Kubicki emphasized that as soon as the tanks are filled, the gas pipeline can be closed.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, has already responded to such statements. He stated that the situation with “Nord Stream 2” resembles drug addiction.
"The calls of some German politicians to start “Nord Stream 2” for a short time and then close it are irrational. It resembles a drug addiction, when a person says: "Just one last time!", not realizing the devastating consequences of each "last time." Addiction to Russian gas kills!" he wrote.
- On September 10, 2021, the construction of the “Nord Stream — 2” pipeline was completely completed. The gas pipeline envisages the laying of two gas pipeline strands over 1.2 thousand kilometers long, each with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year, along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. With them, Russia will supply gas to Germany through the maritime territories of the Russian Federation, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
- On February 21, Russia recognized the independence of "L/DPR" and began to introduce regular troops to Donbas. Three days later, on February 24, Russia launched a full-scale aggression against Ukraine, introducing troops from Crimea, the occupied Donbas, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts, as well as from Belarus.
- On February 22, the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Canada and the European Union introduced sanctions for Russiaʼs recognition of the "L/DPR". Restrictions are imposed on State Duma deputies, military officials, banks, and a number of individuals and legal entities. The certification of "Nordic Stream — 2" has also been suspended.