Putin has 'won the narrative battle' over Ukraine says expert
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The Russian President and Mr Scholz met today in Moscow as the West scrambles to discourage Moscow from attacking Ukraine. But Mr Scholz’s intervention may have come too late after his “weak” stance came as a “dissapointment”. Olexandr Scherba, Chief Advisor to the CEO of Ukraine gas giant Naftogaz, told Express.co.uk that because Mr Scholz has refused to state whether he would scrap a controversial Russian gas project, he is letting Mr Putin run riot on Europe.
He said: “Germany’s position has been a disappointment so far.
“To indicate that Nord Stream 2 would not be shut no matter what Putin does, is not just a statement of weakness.
“In a way, it’s an invitation to invade.”
Nord Stream 2 (NS2) is an £8billion pipeline that will transit gas from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine and Poland on its route through the Baltic Sea.
The controversial deal was struck back when Angela Merkel was German Chancellor, a move that was torn apart by critics who feared it would make the EU even more dependent on Russian gas.
And now, Mr Scholz has come under fire for refusing to state whether he would abandon the project if Russia invades Ukraine, despite much of the West urging him to do so.
Mr Scherba told Express.co.uk: “I still haven’t heard any clear word on Germany’s readiness to act decisively on NS2 even in
case of an invasion.
“It’s bad – not only for Ukraine, but for Germany’s overall credibility with its partners.
“They will start asking questions – at any given moment, when push comes to shove, what will Germany do? Will it be principles first or Nord Stream 2 first?”
Mr Scherba’s comments also come after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called the pipeline a “geopolitical weapon”.
Mr Zelensky has not been shy to voice his opposition to the project in the past.
But his latest comments come after a meeting with the German Chancellor in Kiev on Monday as Russia continues to mount pressure on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President said: “We have certain disagreements in our assessments.
“We clearly understand that it is a geopolitical weapon.”
And Mr Scherba agreed with his President’s position.
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He told Express.co.uk: “Just look at the havoc NS2 is already causing to the European and Transatlantic communities.
“Even without being certified, the pipeline is already tearing apart partners, laying ground for Putin’s ultimate goal: a new world order.
“This is exacerbated by the fact that the pipeline is meant to eliminate Ukraine as a key player in the energy field to punish pro-European Ukraine with Europe’s hands.
“We don’t expect anything but aggression from Moscow. But conducting this aggression on Europe’s dime is a bit too much, isn’t it?”
Last month, a senior official from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany defended the controversial pipeline, saying that it should not be mixed up with political and human rights disputes with Russia over Ukraine.
Kevin Kühnert, the SPD new secretary-general warned a Russian attack should not be used domestically “to bury projects in this way that have always been a thorn in one’s side”.
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