OREANDA-NEWS The German Chancellor Angela Merkel "surrendered the interests" of Ukraine in favor of Russia, said the adviser of the Kiev delegation in the Trilateral Contact Group, the freelance adviser  of the head of the Ukrainian president's office, Oleksiy Arestovich, on the air of the Ukraine 24 TV channel.

According to him, Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Berlin and his negotiations with Angela Merkel did not bring the desired result - the Ukrainian president did not find a common language with the chancellor on a number of issues, including the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and the implementation of the Steinmeier formula.

“But they didn’t bring results, because Mrs. Merkel held out for seven years, but in the end she gave up  Ukrainian interests a little in favor of Russia,” Arestovich said.

On the air of Sputnik radio, the Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Oliyinik noted that Kiev does not want to reckon with the national interests of other countries, and the issue of transit is an example of this.

“Russia's interest is to consistently provide Europe with gas at a mutually beneficial price, be a good partner of Europe and replenish its budget. And what is Ukraine's interest? The United States created an artificial crisis, and Europe realized that transit was unstable. Then it was decided to build Nord Stream-2, and Ukrainian transit was preserved. We got what we needed: transit competition", - Volodymyr Oliyinik said.

According to him, Ukraine cannot withstand this competition, and the Europeans, in particular, Germany, which insists on Ukrainian transit, will pay for it.

"Now the transit of gas supplies is secured. And do you know who will "close" the Ukrainian corridor? Germany. Germany. Because Russia sells gas to Europe at the same price, but the transit price will be completely different. The cheapest will, of course, be the northern branch - there are no intermediaries. As for transit through Ukraine, pay, gentlemen, Europeans, if you want to pay for Ukrainian corruption as well" , - Volodymyr Oliyinyk said.