Merkel allows new sanctions against Moscow if gas is used as a weapon | News from Germany about Europe | DW

According to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Berlin will advocate further sanctions against Moscow if the Russian authorities use the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as a weapon. The head of the German government announced this on Sunday, August 22, in Kiev at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Gas should not be used as a geopolitical weapon,” she said after a meeting with the head of the Ukrainian state.

Merkel: Gas transit agreement should be extended as soon as possible

Merkel stressed the importance of Ukraine remaining a gas transit country beyond 2024. She pointed to Germany’s desire for the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, which expires in 2024, to be extended as soon as possible.

At the same time, according to the Chancellor, Kiev is expected to allocate 1 billion euros in aid for the development of renewable energy.

The head of the German government also announced its readiness to cooperate with Kiev within the framework of NATO, but did not make a specific proposal.

Merkel proposed to hold a new summit in the “Normandy format”

Speaking about the attempts to resolve the military conflict in the east of Ukraine, Merkel acknowledged their results as unsatisfactory. Although the peace plan brought calm, she said it was neither lasting nor lasting. In this regard, the German Chancellor spoke in favor of holding a new summit on the situation in Ukraine in the “Normandy format” with the participation of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France. “In my opinion, this would lead us to progress,” said Angela Merkel.

The Ukrainian president, urging further pressure on Russia to bring peace to the region, thanked Merkel for her support. He said that Kiev continues to rely on arms supplies from Germany. “As part of our agreements with Germany and cooperation with NATO, Ukraine expects sniper rifles and many more things, besides the fleet and military boats, that we would like to receive from our partners,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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