German Foreign Minister May Discuss Nord Stream 2 During Moscow Visit - Berlin

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas may discuss the Nord Stream 2 project and gas transit through Ukraine during his Friday visit to Moscow, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said on Wednesday

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th January, 2019) German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas may discuss the Nord Stream 2 project and gas transit through Ukraine during his Friday visit to Moscow, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said on Wednesday.

"I do not want to predict what will be discussed during the talks, but I think that this topical political issue could be raised," Adebahr told a briefing when asked a respective question.

She added that Germany's position on the Nord Stream 2 and on gas transit through Ukraine remained unchanged.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Gazprom and five European companies. The project envisages the construction of two gas pipelines that will run from Russia, through the Baltic Sea and to a hub in Germany, bypassing Ukraine entirely.

It aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas to the EU states every year. The pipeline project has been welcomed by some countries in Europe and opposed by others, including the United States. In that context, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US leader wanted to protect the interests of US businesses in the area of the liquefied natural gas deliveries to Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has noted that Berlin considers the Nord Stream 2 as a commercial project. Russia has repeatedly stated that the Nord Stream 2 project was completely commercial and competitive, insisting that it did not imply that the transit of Russian gas to the European Union through Ukraine would be terminated.