Oleksiy Danilov: Ukraine can already provide Europe with additional capacity for gas transmission in the amount of 50-55 billion cubic meters

Ukraine can already provide the European community with additional opportunities to transport natural gas. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov stated this in his speech at the 7th Ukrainian Gas Forum “Eastern European Gas Hub.  Green deal. Ukrainian initiative”.

Opening the forum, Mr. Danilov noted that energy is “used by certain countries as a weapon”. According to the NSDC Secretary, after 1991, gas became an “instrument of political influence”.

Analyzing the current situation with gas supplies to Europe, in particular, the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, Mr. Danilov noted that its launch is a threat to Ukraine’s national security.

He reminded that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on October 22, this year, at which a protocol decision was made to determine special conditions for transporting additional volumes of natural gas through Ukraine’s gas transmission system to EU countries. “We can already provide additional gas pumping capacity already today. In addition to 40 billion cubic meters of gas under the contract with Russia, our gas transmission system can provide additional 50-55 billion cubic meters, and if necessary more”, - Mr. Danilov said.

According to him, “we will draw conclusions” given the response of the European community.  “The question is whether will Europe and Russia accept this? Is it a market or a big policy and energy weapon?”, - he stressed.

Mr. Danilov also assured the forum participants that energy security is a key component of the national security policy, which is reflected in the National Security Strategy of Ukraine and the Energy Security Strategy of Ukraine.