U.S. President Joe Biden did not change his opinion that the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is a factor of instability for Ukraine and Europe, but, being unable to prevent its completion, the U.S. administration turned its attention to mitigating the negative consequences of its completion, the Voice of America said with reference to a representative of the U.S. State Department.
“The idea of reaching the joint statement with Germany was recognizing the reality of the complete – the near completion of the pipeline itself, understanding that aggressive action by the United States would likely not have changed the outcome and perhaps only would have delayed it. So looking at reality, understanding it, and fashioning something with an arrangement with Germany that would allow us to continue to defend the significant interests that Europe has, that the United States have to defend the security of Ukraine while addressing and mitigating the bad effects and the threats that Nord Stream 2 could pose,” the U.S. Department of State quoted Amos Hochstein, senior advisor for global energy security, as saying.
The senior U.S. official also stressed that Washington is in contact with European countries and Ukraine regarding the search for mechanisms that would alleviate the risks that may arise in the winter.
Hochstein also noted that the world is on the verge of transition to cleaner energy and expressed hope that in the future Ukraine would retain its historical role in the supply of energy resources to Europe.
In his opinion, the factor of this will be investments in Ukraine, indicated by the joint statement of the United States and Germany, and the integration of Ukraine into the European power grid.
