nordstream2

Thursday, July 22

Yesterday Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the compromise, an agreement designed to allow the €9.5 billion pipeline to open this fall. With Angela Merkel’s plan to step down after the September 27 Bundestag elections, the Greens, her party’s main opponents, were scathing. “At a time when Putin is putting massive rhetorical and ...

In Washington, Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he had no doubt Russia “will use the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a weapon of coercion against Ukraine and transatlantic energy security as soon as it is operational. Promises to invest in future Ukrainian energy projects and ambiguous threats of consequences won’t change th...

Although the pipeline is 98% complete, a bipartisan group of Washington lawmakers told Politico that they are considering blocking must-pass appropriations legislation this fall if the Biden administration continues to withhold sanctions o...

Tuesday, July 13

Separately, Matthias Warnig, CEO of Nord Stream AG, told German’s Handelsblatt newspaper that the gas pipeline is 98% complete. “We expect the construction work to be completed by the end of August,” he said in comments published on Sunday. Warnig predicted the pipeline will become operational this fall.

Friday, July 2

With EU gas prices at 13-year highs and Russian gas supplies to the EU down by almost a fifth, the head of Ukraine’s pipeline company tells the Financial Times that the EU should fight back against Russia’s ‘blackmail.” Sergiy Makogon, chief executive of Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System Operat...

Tuesday, June 15

In Geneva tomorrow, President Biden is to meet with President Putin and speak about Nord Stream 2 , the Russia-German gas pipeline that Russia built to bypass Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told Germany’s Welt newspaper that Ukraine “will consider” negotiations on compensation...

Tuesday, June 8

Biden will “stand up firmly for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and aspirations,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters about next week’s meeting with Putin. In an interview with Axios posted on Sunday, Zelenskiy asked for a meeting with Biden, complaining about...

In contrast, Norbert Röttgen, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, tweeted: “#Putin blackmails #Ukraine before #NordStream2 has even been finished. He uses the pipeline as exactly the kind of weapon, the Poles, B...

Monday, June 7

The pipeline is to be discussed at the June 16 Putin-Biden summit in Geneva. Two weeks ago, Biden waived sanctions against the company building the pipeline, saying the line is almost finished and relations with Germany take precedence. Former US President Donald Trump, in a s...

Thursday, June 3

Only the US can stop Nord Stream 2 , President Zelenskiy told three visiting US Senators yesterday. “Nord Stream 2 will disconnect Ukraine from gas supplies, which means it will “disconnect” us from at least $ 3 billion a y...

Thursday, May 20

The Baltic Sea pipeline bypasses Ukraine and will concentrate enormous power in Germany as the main distributor of Russian natural gas to the EU . It will also deprive Ukraine of $1-2 billion in gas transit revenues and remove a brake on Russian behavior. Axios writes: “Bypassing Ukraine with a direct pipeline to Germany is an opportunity for ...

Monday, April 19

Nord Stream 2, the nearly completed Russia-Germany gas line, “is a matter of war,” President Zelenskiy said to Le Figaro newspaper prior to his meeting Friday with President Macron in Paris. “This is not a matter of business,” he said of the $10 billion trans-Baltic pipeline which i...

Wednesday, February 17

Ukraine’s Energoatom will soon stop sending spent nuclear fuel to Russia for processing and storage Ukraine’s Energoatom will soon stop sending spent nuclear fuel to Russia for processing and storage, Petro Kotin, the company head, said yesterday. In July, the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility...

With demand strong for Ukrainian government bonds, the Finance Ministry depressed yields on all five hryvnia bonds sold at yesterday’s auction With demand strong for Ukrainian government bonds, the Finance Ministry depressed yields on all five hryvnia bonds sold at yesterday’s auction, the Ministry reported. With yields dropping from six to ...

Looking beyond the bland public statements surrounding Ukraine’s recent suspension of talks with the IMF, Looking beyond the bland public statements surrounding Ukraine’s recent suspension of talks with the IMF, Anders Aslund, a veteran IMF observer, writes in an Atlantic Council blog: “No agreement was c...

DiDi, China’s giant online taxi service, plans to launch this year in Ukraine, reports AIN.ua news site. With 550 million users DiDi, China’s giant online taxi service, plans to launch this year in Ukraine, reports AIN.ua news site. With 550 million users, tens of millions of users and billions of dollars in revenues, DiDi ent...

DiDi will compete with Bolt, Uber and Uklon for Ukraine’s taxi market, estimated by Uklon at $800 million a year. DiDi will compete with Bolt, Uber and Uklon for Ukraine’s taxi market, estimated by Uklon at $800 million a year. Uber, the first mover in Ukraine, now operates in seven Ukrainian cities and claims th...

Taxi services got a boost yesterday when the Rada overwhelmingly approved a bill raising the penalty for drunk driving to $608 Taxi services got a boost yesterday when the Rada overwhelmingly approved a bill raising the penalty for drunk driving to $608. For repeat offenders, the fine is doubled to $1,216, licenses are suspen...

McDonald’s Ukraine plans to expand a pilot program of restaurant waste recycling to all 96 restaurants in the country by the end of this year McDonald’s Ukraine plans to expand a pilot program of restaurant waste recycling to all 96 restaurants in the country by the end of this year, the company announced yesterday. As part of a world...

Kyiv’s 11th Regus office work space opens in Podil next month Kyiv’s 11th Regus office work space opens in Podil next month, reports the parent company, Luxembourg-based IWG Plc. Despite last year’s economic recession, total occupancy of the 10 existing Regus wo...

Kyiv’s Sikorsky Airport is to add 500 meters to its runway, allowing Wizz Air, its primary user, to use larger jets. Kyiv’s Sikorsky Airport is to add 500 meters to its runway, allowing Wizz Air, its primary user, to use larger jets. By moving to Airbus 321 jets, Wizz Air says it can reduce frequencies and noise in ...

Mayor Klitschko signed an order last week for design work to start on a 5-year upgrade of the airport Mayor Klitschko signed an order last week for design work to start on a 5-year upgrade of the airport. By expanding the runway to 2,810 meters, upgrading lights and adding an instrument landing system...

German and Biden Administration officials are discussing a package of measures that would allow the Russia-German gas line to open, but protect Ukraine’s security concerns German and Biden Administration officials are discussing a package of measures that would allow the Russia-German gas line to open, but protect Ukraine’s security concerns, according to a Financial Ti...

“As Berlin seeks solutions, early signs from Washington indicate that the Biden administration is seeking to defuse the Nord Stream 2 debate,” “As Berlin seeks solutions, early signs from Washington indicate that the Biden administration is seeking to defuse the Nord Stream 2 debate,” the FT writes. “Two knowledgeable sources said [US Secret...

A cold weather spike in electricity consumption, a lack of coal, and power plant breakdowns are forcing Eastern Ukraine to import electricity A cold weather spike in electricity consumption, a lack of coal, and power plant breakdowns are forcing Eastern Ukraine to import electricity from Belarus and Russia and Western Ukraine to import elec...

Electricity consumption last week was 6.5% more than forecast Electricity consumption last week was 6.5% more than forecast. But coal reserves fell to one third of required minimums. Thanks to imports, Kudrytskyi does not predict immediate power shortages.

DTEK Group, Ukraine’s largest private power producer DTEK Group, Ukraine’s largest private power producer, called on the government yesterday “to abolish price caps, which are an obstacle to the liberalization of the electricity market.” The company cit...

Friday, January 15

From London, Timothy Ash stressed the importance of market prices for a major source of Ukraine’s heat and electricity: From London, Timothy Ash stressed the importance of market prices for a major source of Ukraine’s heat and electricity: “The move to market-based gas pricing in Ukraine has produced huge wins in recen...

Spawning street protests in at least eight regional capitals, the spike in Ukraine’s gas prices stems from Spawning street protests in at least eight regional capitals, the spike in Ukraine’s gas prices stems from: cold weather, high prices in Europe, and a poorly implemented market opening that allows pri...

At stake is $2.9 billion of low interest loans remaining to be disbursed from the IMF’s $5 billion Stand-By Arrangement of last summer. At stake is $2.9 billion of low interest loans remaining to be disbursed from the IMF’s $5 billion Stand-By Arrangement of last summer. The agreement is widely seen as a seal of approval for Ukraine’s...

One year after the last-minute renegotiation of Ukraine’s gas transit deal with Gazprom, One year after the last-minute renegotiation of Ukraine’s gas transit deal with Gazprom, Naftogaz reports that the Russian state company paid its 2020 bill in full — $2.1 billion. Gazprom paid f...

Today, the US State Department is expected to issue a report listing which European companies working on Nord Stream 2 will be subject to US sanctions, Today, the US State Department is expected to issue a report listing which European companies working on Nord Stream 2 will be subject to US sanctions, Reuters reports from Washington. In advance, Ram...

TIU Canada of Calgary is suing Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant for disconnecting the Canadians’ 10.5 MW solar plant last March TIU Canada of Calgary is suing Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant for disconnecting the Canadians’ 10.5 MW solar plant last March, ostensibly because the Ferroalloy Plant did not want to pay green power rates. ...

Ukraine’s coal production fell by 7% last year, hitting 29 million tons, near the level of 1916 Ukraine’s coal production fell by 7% last year, hitting 29 million tons, near the level of 1916, reports the Energy Ministry. Employment in coal mines is about 30,000 today – 6% the level of the end o...

Western Ukraine Coal Construction, Ukraine’s last state company devoted to building coal mines, goes up for auction in 10 days Western Ukraine Coal Construction, Ukraine’s last state company devoted to building coal mines, goes up for auction in 10 days, reports the State Property Fund. The company has 15,700 square meters at...

The State Property Fund plans to sell 500 state properties this year to private owners The State Property Fund plans to sell 500 state properties this year to private owners, Dmytro Sennychenko, the head of the Fund, wrote on Facebook. “Privatization grows jobs, improves the socio-econo...

Regional airports are primed for a post pandemic takeoff Regional airports are primed for a post pandemic takeoff. UkSATSE traffic numbers for 2020 confirmed the dominance of Kyiv’s two big airports – Boryspil (47,524 flights) and Sikorsky (12,805). The air...

The EBRD is working with the Infrastructure Ministry to create dedicated funds to develop Ukraine’s airports and railway infrastructure The EBRD is working with the Infrastructure Ministry to create dedicated funds to develop Ukraine’s airports and railway infrastructure, Minister Vladyslav Krykliy said yesterday on the ministry websi...

The government’s plan to cut gas prices by one third is sparking a flurry of meetings between the IMF representative and government ministers. “ The government’s plan to cut gas prices by one third is sparking a flurry of meetings between the IMF representative and government ministers. “We had a constructive meeting with the IMF on gas prices...

Aware of the IMF’s core attachment to market prices for gas, Aware of the IMF’s core attachment to market prices for gas, acting Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko also explained the government’s position to IMF representatives...

Monday, January 11

Gazprom re-starts construction of Nord Stream 2 on Friday Gazprom re-starts construction of Nord Stream 2 on Friday, using a flotilla of three Russian boats capable of finishing the Russia to Germany gas line by May, The Financial Times reports from Moscow a...

“The US sanctions will delay the launch of the project, but will not stop its completion,” “The US sanctions will delay the launch of the project, but will not stop its completion,” predicts Naz Masraff, Europe director at Eurasia Group. “Ultimately, Moscow, with the help of Berlin, will fi...

With Russian gas transit across Ukraine only guaranteed through 2024, Ukraine’s pipeline operator is negotiating alternatives: With Russian gas transit across Ukraine only guaranteed through 2024, Ukraine’s pipeline operator is negotiating alternatives: storage of gas from new LNG terminals in the Baltic and Adriatic, and tra...

Pro-Russian politicians promoting Russia’s coronavirus vaccine are making advances as the West delays sending its own vaccines to Ukraine Pro-Russian politicians promoting Russia’s coronavirus vaccine are making advances as the West delays sending its own vaccines to Ukraine, The New York Times reports in a story headlined: “In Vaccine ...

Alfa-Bank Ukraine forecasts the 2020 year-end foreign direct investment figure will be $0.00 billion Alfa-Bank Ukraine forecasts the 2020 year-end foreign direct investment figure will be $0.00 billion. By contrast, net FDI inflow was $5.2 billion in 2019 and $4.5 billion in 2018.

Lack of rule of law, unpaid debts to solar and wind investors, and last year’s purge of internationally-known reformers from government make for bleak prospects for inbound investment this year Lack of rule of law, unpaid debts to solar and wind investors, and last year’s purge of internationally-known reformers from government make for bleak prospects for inbound investment this year, Ander...

By the end of next year, Ukrhydroenergo plans to put into operation at its hydro plants energy storage systems with capacity of 212 MW By the end of next year, Ukrhydroenergo plans to put into operation at its hydro plants energy storage systems with capacity of 212 MW and solar power plants with a capacity of 65 MW, says Ihor Syrota...

DTEK is opening “an investment hub” in London to attract investments for renewable energy projects in the Ukraine and in the EU, DTEK is opening “an investment hub” in London to attract investments for renewable energy projects in the Ukraine and in the EU, the company reports. “We created a hub to attract investment in new ene...

Turkey and Ukraine are working on “more than 30 joint projects” for production of military equipment, Turkey and Ukraine are working on “more than 30 joint projects” for production of military equipment, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Turkey Andrii Sybiha says in a lengthy written said interview with Defense...

A Turkey-Ukraine-Poland container route is in the pipeline for 2021 A Turkey-Ukraine-Poland container route is in the pipeline for 2021 as Ukrferry and Ferrplus have signed an agreement with Ukrzaliznytsia’s Lisky terminal in Kyiv. In a multimodal route, containers wi...