OREANDA-NEWS. The Austrian authorities oppose the use of the Nord Stream 2 project as an instrument of pressure on Russia in the context of the situation in Ukraine. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky.

“It is important for us that Vienna is considering this project, in the implementation of which, as you know, the OMV concern is actively involved, as a European one, which should not and cannot be used as a means of pressure on Moscow in the context of the prospects for an intra-Ukrainian settlement,” he stressed. in an interview with RIA Novosti published on December 31.

The Russian diplomatic mission noted the confirmation of this position already in the first statements of Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. According to Lyublinsky, they proceed from the assumption that the gas pipeline will soon be commissioned in accordance with current plans.

“For my part, I can only note that so far the Austrian leadership has consistently supported the implementation of Nord Stream 2, despite, as we believe, unrelenting pressure from outside. The reason is clear - economic profitability and expediency, ”he added.

On December 30, Bundestag deputy from the Green party, Omid Nuripur, pointed out that political decisions would not lead to a stop of SP-2. Nuripur added that all the fundamental decisions on the gas pipeline project have already been made, so it is impossible to disrupt the launch of the SP-2 using the methods used now.

On the same day, the German magazine Der Spiegel published an article on the readiness of the SP-2 gas pipeline for operation. Some readers of the publication, in the comments under the publication, were outraged by the position of the FRG authorities on the transit of gas through Ukraine. In particular, one reader wondered why Germany should be held responsible for increasing transit fees for Ukraine when there is a significantly cheaper transport route.

On December 29, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, reported to the president that the SP-2 gas pipeline was fully prepared for the start of operation. According to him, the second string of the gas pipeline was filled with fuel on December 29. In response, President Vladimir Putin congratulated Gazprom and the company's partners on the completion of work on the creation of a large additional gas pipeline. At the same time, Putin said that the launch of the SP-2 will lead to a decrease in gas prices in Europe, including for Ukraine.