Canada’s decision last week to send repaired parts of Russia’s natural gas pipeline back to Germany was difficult but necessary, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Saturday.
Liberals face intense criticism from Ukraine for exempting Russia from sanctions against Russia’s invasion of six Siemens Energy turbines, which are maintained in Montreal and help supply gas to parts of Germany. doing.
Prime Minister Freeland told reporters at a telephone conference after the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia, that he understands Ukraine’s response, but that the government should take action in that situation. He said he defended.
“It was a very difficult decision for Canada. I understand that Ukraine is concerned about it, but it was the right thing to do,” Freeland said.
“Canada is united and determined to help the people of Ukraine. We have donated a total of $ 3.4 billion in financial and military support. Canada has helped Ukraine and is determined. We are proud to have taken the lead in many ways to oppose (President of Russia) Vladimirputin. “
But Canada alone cannot provide Ukraine with the support it needs, Freeland said, a transatlantic alliance to work together on the part of fellow Canadian G7 members to ensure that support. is required.
Freeland said it’s clear that a pipeline run by Russia’s state-owned energy company Gazprom could be a problem for its leaders. Russia cut its gas supply from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in northeastern Germany by 60% last month due to technical problems related to turbines.
“Canada has very clearly heard from its German allies that Germany’s ability to maintain support for Ukraine could be compromised,” Freeland said. The United States publicly upheld Canada’s decision to return the turbine. This is the position where Freeland has stated that it is very important.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the decision “absolutely unacceptable” earlier this week.
“The decision on the exception to sanctions is perceived exclusively in Moscow as a sign of weakness. This is their logic,” Russia said, now trying to limit or stop gas supply to Europe at the most important moment. I added that.
In Ottawa, opposition parliamentarians called on Friday to explain the controversial decision of the Liberal Party’s senior minister at a special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee sometime next week.
The Liberal Party has agreed to ask questions to Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson.
The Conservatives called for her to appear in Freeland, claiming she disagreed with the decision that liberals were trying to hide her testimony before Saturday’s comment.
The Commission also invites the Canadian Parliament of Ukraine and the ambassadors of Ukraine, Germany and the European Union to Canada to provide testimony.
By Sidhartha Banerjee
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