Canada's Ukrainian community urges Trudeau not to return Russian gas turbine

Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion arrive in Winnipeg
Steve Scherer and Rod Nickel

Thu, July 7, 2022 

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada's Ukrainian community is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to refuse to compromise the country's sanctions against Russia in order to return a turbine that Moscow says is critical for supplying natural gas to Germany.

Russia's state-controlled Gazprom cut the capacity along the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to just 40% of usual levels last month, citing the delayed return of equipment being serviced by Germany's Siemens Energy in Canada.

Canada has one of the world's biggest Ukrainian diasporas outside of countries that border Ukraine and it has successfully pressured Ottawa to impose increasingly strict sanctions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February.

Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) national president Alexandra Chyczij urged Trudeau, in a letter on Wednesday, to see through Russia's "obvious ploy" to divide Ukraine's allies.

Ottawa should instead broker a solution that does not involve waiving sanctions, she wrote in the letter, posted on UCC's website.

"Any waiver of Canadian sanctions would be viewed as a capitulation to Russian blackmail and energy terrorism, and would only serve to embolden the Russian terrorist state," Chyczij said.

In an interview, UCC CEO Ihor Michalchyshyn said the group is acting independently and not receiving direction from Kyiv regarding lobbying Ottawa about the turbine.

The Canadian government has not responded to the UCC's letter, he said.

"We have not gotten reassurance of anything, either way," Michalchyshyn said. "That's why we're quite concerned."

A Canadian government source said the Ukrainian government itself opposes the turbine's return.

Trudeau's office had no immediate comment on the letter.

"We will not stop imposing severe costs on the Putin regime while their unjustifiable invasion is ongoing and we will continue to support our European friends and allies," said Ian Cameron, spokesman for Canada's natural resources minister, in a statement.

The Russian embassy in Ottawa said Russia has no role to play in returning the turbine.

"It is a problem between Canada and Germany," the embassy said in a statement. "We would welcome the release of the turbine which could help to restore gas flow to Europe."

The technical problem with the turbine is merely a Russian pretext, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said last week.

Canada, alongside its Western allies, has issued sweeping sanctions on Russia after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation."

(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Steve Scherer in Ottawa;Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Media: Canada will return the turbine to Gazprom

Today

The Canadian authorities announced their intention to withdraw from sanctions the turbine for the Nord Stream gas pipeline. Agreements on this issue were carried out with Berlin.

European Truth and Reuters write about it . The reason for the lifting of restrictive measures should be the argument that the return of the turbine will give Russia the opportunity to restore the pumping of fuel to Europe. The Ukrainian government is aware of Ottawa's intention and has already stated that it is "unreasonable and dangerous for the sanctions regime."

Canada and Germany do not want the absence of turbines to stop Russia from supplying gas via Nord Stream. But Kyiv insists that the sanctions prohibit the transfer of any gas-related equipment to Moscow.

- If, God forbid, this decision is approved, we will undoubtedly turn to our European colleagues with a request to reconsider their approach. Because if countries do not comply with the decisions they have agreed on sanctions, what kind of solidarity can we talk about? - said in the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy.

Last month Kyiv demanded not to return the turbine to Russia.

Recall that we are talking about a Siemens turbine, which is currently being repaired in Canada.

Note that Berlin also asked Ottawa not to return the turbine to Moscow. Such requirements were put forward by the head of the German Ministry of Economy and Climate, Robert Habeck. Moreover, he insisted on transferring this turbine to Germany. He said the move would deprive Russian leader Vladimir Putin of "excuses" for cutting gas supplies.

Germany Expects Canada to Release Key Nord Stream Part

Arne Delfs, Bloomberg News

A pressure gauge on pipework at the Gazprom PJSC Slavyanskaya compressor station, the starting point of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, in Ust-Luga, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. Nord Stream 2 is a 1,230-kilometer (764-mile) gas pipeline that will double the capacity of the existing undersea route from Russian fields to Europe -- the original Nord Stream -- which opened in 2011. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg , Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Germany expects Canada to release a key Russian pipeline part caught up in sanctions, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Releasing the part could potentially ease a gas standoff between Russia and Germany. The Kremlin said on Friday that if the turbine is sent back then gas flows to Europe can increase.

A German government spokesman said they had received positive signals, but no confirmation the turbine is on its way. It wasn’t immediately possible to contact the Canadian government.

Germany has urged Canada to release the part as it takes all possible measures to prevent an energy catastrophe this winter. 

Economy Minister Robert Habeck told Bloomberg earlier this week that the turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline needs to be returned before maintenance work begins on Monday. Releasing the component would remove an excuse for Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep the conduit closed, he said.