WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) – Ukraine is working behind the scenes to convince Western allies to change the route of Russian gas deliveries from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to the Ukrainian pipeline, which would increase Kyiv’s leverage in its dispute. with Russia, energy officials told Reuters.
Such a decision would force Russia to channel more of its gas destined for Europe through Ukraine. Moscow would thus have to pay more transit fees, which could help Ukraine’s wartime defense and deter Russia from damaging Ukrainian gas pipelines in the meantime, the officials told U.S. lawmakers and government officials. the Biden Washington administration last week.
Representatives of Ukrainian pipeline operator and Naftogaz gas company spent a week in Washington where they met with US administration officials and congressional lawmakers to urge them to convince Germany and other European allies to adopt this plan.
Russia “depends on us to transport its gas to Europe. This is an element to exploit in our discussions with Moscow and Europe can help us”, declared Olga Bielkova, director of international affairs for the Ukrainian operator of gas pipelines.
Neither the White House nor Germany’s economy minister has commented.
(Report Valerie Volcovici, with Kate Abnett and Sarah Marsh; French version Camille Raynaud)