Ukraine’s government is calling on Canada to reconsider its decision to allow the delivery of turbines from a Russia-Europe natural gas pipeline to Germany, saying it sets a “dangerous precedent” when it comes to sanctions against the Russian regime.
Canada’s Natural Services Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced on social media on Saturday that turbines from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which delivers natural gas from Russia to Germany, which had been sent to Montreal for planned repairs, would be able to be returned.
Back in June, Siemens Energy said Canadian sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine meant the company could not return the turbines.
In his recent announcement, Wilkinson said turbine maker Siemens Canada would receive a “time-limited and revocable permit” to return the equipment — essentially exonerating it.
He said the supply was needed to support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy” as it tries to wean itself off dependence on Russian oil and gas. The government says it plans to return six turbines.
In a statement on Sunday, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy expressed their “deep disappointment” in Canada’s decision.
“This dangerous precedent violates international solidarity, contradicts the principle of the rule of law and will have only one consequence: it will strengthen Moscow’s sense of impunity,” it said.
In the run-up to Canada’s decision, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck expressed concerns that Russia could cut off natural gas supplies to Europe after scheduled maintenance. The warning followed earlier reductions in the flow of natural gas from Russia to Germany, along with Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
While Gazprom, Russia’s state-run energy giant, blamed repairs in Canada for reducing natural gas supplies through the pipeline to Germany, German leaders cast doubt on the explanation of technical problems and instead characterized it as a political move.
The Ukrainian government raised similar concerns in its statement, saying Russia’s threats amounted to “blackmail that has no technical justification.”
“Russia is able to continue supplying gas to Germany entirely without this turbine,” it said.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, warned last month that it was in crisis because of Russia’s decision to cut the amount of gas passing through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 60 percent.
Alexandra Chichiy, president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, expressed disappointment at Canada’s decision, saying Ottawa was bowing to Russian threats to cut off gas supplies by complying with Germany’s request.
“Canada will not only break its policy of isolating Russia, it will also set a dangerous precedent that will lead to a weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia,” Chichi said in a statement.
“This decision will ensure that the coffers of the Russian state budget will continue to be filled with European money, which will be used to finance Russia’s genocide against the Ukrainian people.”
Chyczij said Canada has been put in the position of deciding whether to comply with an ally’s request or “stick firmly to the sanctions imposed on Gazprom and Nordstream 1.”
Three Conservative MPs also issued a statement Sunday saying allowing the equipment to be returned undermines sanctions Canada has imposed on Russia at a time when it should instead be stepping up as an alternative gas supplier to Europe.
“Allowing the return of the gas turbine sets a dangerous precedent for refusing to blackmail Europe from Putin and will negatively impact Canada’s position on the world stage,” Tories Michael Chong, James Bezan and Pierre Paul-Hughes said in a joint statement.
In light of criticism of Canada’s decision, Wilkinson’s office pointed to the minister’s earlier statement. It said that not only was Germany’s economy vulnerable, but “Germans themselves will be at risk of not being able to heat their homes as winter approaches.”
The statement also noted that Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,600 individuals since Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014.
On the same day that Wilkinson announced that the turbines would be returned, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced that Canada planned to implement a new set of sanctions targeting Russia’s land and pipeline transportation and manufacturing sectors.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 10, 2022.
— With files from The Associated Press
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