Polish PM welcomes Germany's decision to halt NS2 pipeline
Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, has welcomed a decision by the German chancellor to halt the certification of the Nord Stream 2 Russia-Germany gas pipeline following Moscow's recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday recognising the self-declared 'people's republics' of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent states, and there are now reports that Russian troops have entered eastern Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday that Germany is suspending the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"It is a voice of common sense and strong opposition to the Kremlin's neo-imperial ambitions," Morawiecki wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
However, he went on to say that Poland expected "more far-reaching steps."
"Since the very onset of the Nord Stream 2 project, Poland has strongly opposed putting Germany's gas interest before the security of the whole of Europe," Morawiecki went on to say.
"The effects of the continent's dependence on Russian energy supplies are being felt by all EU citizens today," Morawiecki added.
Prices of natural gas have been soaring on European markets as economies are picking up steam following a decline in demand caused by the coronavirus crisis and also owing to clogged supply chains. European governments have accused Russia of adding fuel to the problem by limiting its gas supplies to Europe.
The NS2 project bypasses eastern Europe, including the traditional transit country Ukraine, and eastern EU members fear it could be used by the Kremlin to exert pressure on the EU.
