Media: Merkel will visit Kyiv to force Ukraine’s reconciliation with Russia's Gazprom
The key topic of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Kyiv, scheduled for early November, is the continuation of the Russian gas transit through Ukraine after the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline construction is completed, writes the Polish edition of Gazeta Wyborcza.
The publication notes that many European experts and politicians have criticized the intention to implement the Nord Stream-2 project, which will only strengthen the EU's dependence on Russian gas. After the launch of the new gas transportation system, Russia will be able to refuse to transit gas through Ukraine, which will result in economic and political problems for Kyiv.
At the same time, the newspaper writes that recently the German government has focused on the issue of gas transit through Ukraine. Merkel and the Russian President Vladimir Putin raised this issue during meetings in Sochi and in the German palace of Meseberg.
In the middle of July, Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission representatives began negotiations on the resolution of the Kyiv and Moscow gas disputes. These conversations take place in the German Ministry of Economy building in Berlin. It is obvious that Germany aims to act as the arbitrator in the dispute. The next round of negotiations should be held in the coming weeks. It is possible that completion will coincide with the Merkel’s visit to Kyiv.
At a meeting with the Russian President, Merkel said that even after the launch of "North Stream 2" Ukraine should play its role in gas transit to Europe.