OTTAWA –
Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada will today make clear the country’s disappointment over Canada’s decision to allow pipeline equipment in Montreal for repair to be returned to a giant state-controlled energy company in Canada. Russia defies war-related sanctions.
Yulia Kovaliv will appear before a committee of MPs reviewing Ottawa’s decision to allow a turbine to be shipped to Gazprom, which Canada has sanctioned over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for use in the pipeline. Nord Stream 1 supplies natural gas to Germany.
Last month, the Liberal government was criticized for allowing Siemens Energy to be exempt from sanctions against Russia and to allow turbines to be returned to Germany and then shipped to Russia for installation in pipelines.
Siemens Energy has been granted a license to import, repair and return up to six turbines to Gazprom, and the Ukrainian Embassy said Kovaliv will extend calls asking Ottawa to revoke the decision.
Kyiv accused Canada of setting a dangerous precedent, arguing that the waivers undermined sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Melanie Joly and Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson will also appear before the House foreign affairs committee today, and Liberal Party Chairman Ali Ehsassi said it was important for Canadians to know the decision. how it is presented.
On Wednesday, Joly and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock both insisted the return of turbines used in Russian pipelines was necessary.
But they also said the fact that the turbine remained in Germany after Canada authorized its release – and since then Russia has reduced natural gas supplies to Germany by 20% – shows how dishonest the General is. President Vladimir Putin.
Russia has cited the delayed return of equipment as a reason for reduced natural gas flow through the pipeline from Russia to Germany.
Joly said in Montreal on Wednesday during a joint press conference with Baerbock. “It’s clear that Putin is weaponizing energy flows to Europe.”
Ehsassi said Thursday’s meeting of the foreign affairs committee would help establish “diplomatic missions already in place” around the decision.
Germany’s ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, is also expected to appear before the committee, along with the European Union’s ambassador to Canada, Melita Gnai.
This Canadian Press report was first published on August 4, 2022
