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Nord Stream-2 against Ukraine. What Zelensky and Merkel agreed on

Construction of Nord Stream-2 may be completed in August. In September 2021, Angela Merkel will step down as head of the German government.
The Ukrainian side sought to achieve in Berlin a few fundamental things, focused on the future.
First, that Nord Stream 2 should be recognized by Germany as a security issue for Ukraine and Europe, and not just an economic project of the energy giants.
Secondly, that the consequences of launching this controversial gas in the discussion in the "Norman format".
Third, the Ukrainian delegation convinced its German counterparts that the Ukrainian GTS remains an attractive business project for Europe, even if "Nord Stream-2" becomes operational from 2022.
Disappointment or warranty
Angela Merkel believes that Ukraine should remain transit of gas even after the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.
By 2024, Russia has pledged to transport its gas through the Ukrainian territory. This year, it is converted to transit 40 billion cubic meters of gas.
According to various estimates, after the launch of Nord Stream-2, transit through Ukrainian territory may be reduced by 40-80%.
The current gas agreement between Ukraine and Russia was signed in December 2019 with the mediation of the European Commission and with the assistance of Germany. This time, Zelensky admitted in Berlin that such assistance is not enough when it comes to the possibility of losing the lion's share of transit after the launch of another pipeline.
"We have few such guarantees, because the subjects of the negotiations are the Russian Federation. If we are talking about energy security, then we must have guarantees from the European Union, guarantees from Germany and France," the president said.
At a joint press conference with him, Angela Merkel assured that the guarantees will be: "We will achieve this. We promised it. I keep my promises. And this applies to every German chancellor."
On July 15, German leader will meet with American President Joe Biden in Washington. In negotiations with Ukrainians, she promised to work out guarantees in conjunction with the United States. It also noted that the energy can be discussed in the Normandy fields, but the Minsk agreements do not include the issues of Nord Stream-2.
The current US administration has removed sanctions against the North Stream-2 operator company Nord Stream 2 AG and its Matthias Varnig's expectations in May this year, motivating this need to improve the relations with the EU and Germany. Merkel
"There are risks that Ukraine will be disconnected from gas, gas transit and gas in general. Therefore, the temporarily occupied territory of Donbass may not receive gas, and this is a question of security guarantees in those territories that all participants of the Normandy format took it upon themselves",- Zelensky said on a conference.
"Attractive business case"
At the talks in Berlin, the Ukrainian delegation assured that Ukraine has something that the Russians do not have. This is the operational flexibility of the Ukrainian system of gas pipelines and gas storage facilities, reliability and compliance with the requirements of EU energy legislation.
Ukraine's largest gas storage facilities are located on its western borders, which allows for a rapid increase in gas pumping to Europe. In addition, the Ukrainian GTS transports gas for both export and domestic consumption, which also allows for a rapid increase in supplies to European countries.
Russian transit gas pipelines: Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 run along the seabed and do not have such flexibility. They need more time to maneuver with supply volumes.
In case of partial or complete refusal of Ukrainian transit, problems with gas supplies will also arise in Poland, Slovakia and Italy. Ukraine has potential allies in countering Nord Stream-2. Merkel
In addition, the German elections in September may give Ukraine hope after many disappointments. levant
by: Tetiana Bazanova levant
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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