Ukraine has a chance to become an important element of the energy security and a no less important energy market player in Europe. This was stated by participants in the energy panel of the Euro-Atlantic Forum for Leadership and Solidarity that took place in Kyiv on April 19.
“Europe must decrease its dependence on the Russian gas. This is very important”, said Alan Riley, expert at the Atlantic Council and Professor at City University of London.
“The EU is now focused on enhancing its energy security. In this period, Ukraine may become another source of gas supply to Europe”, said Olena Pavlenko, President of DiXi Group think tank.
“Our country has built significant transit capacities and increased transit. No one could even imagine three years ago that Ukraine would stop buying Russian gas”, Nataliia Katser-Buchkovska, MP of Ukraine (People’s Front faction), elaborated on the topic.
Also, in the opinion of the participants in the Forum, the Nord Stream 2 project wildly advertised by the Kremlin will create serious problems for the energy security of Europe. “This is not an economic, but a purely political project. Its purpose is to blackmail Europe”, said Mrs. Katser-Buchkovska. “Russia will not be able to make additional gas supplies via this pipeline. Because Gazprom’s production goes down steadily. Moreover, construction of this pipeline will surely affect the price for the Russian gas to be transmitted through it”, said Olena Pavlenko.
