OREANDA-NEWS And at yesterday's meeting between Merkel and Biden, the new status quo finally became reality. Nord Stream-2 will be launched. Ukraine will become even poorer - although the damage to the Ukrainian economy from the loss of the Russian market is many times more significant than the loss of one and a half to two billion dollars in transit payments. Fantastic claims for monetary compensation and transit extension for 10-15 years will not be met. On the other hand, Ukraine might receive some money for the sale of the gas transmission system (GTS) or transferring it to the management of "the occidental partners" - though not entirely, but only a part, which will remain profitable with small pumping volumes. By the way, over time, this sale / transfer will be declared a great success, since only it will be able to provide the necessary volumes of gas for Ukraine itself.

A few hours before meeting between Zelensky's and Merkel, the press secretary of the Ukrainian president, Sergei Nikiforov, said that his boss did not go to Berlin for money: “There will be no talk of any economic compensation”. The President of Ukraine is trying to stop the construction of the NS-2. If we fail to do this, then we are talking about security guarantees - the return of the temporarily occupied territories, and not monetary compensation".

As a result of the event, it became obvious that, of course, there was no talk of stopping the construction and with regard to Donbass, Merkel announced the need for Ukraine to implement the "Steinmeier formula".As a result of the event, it became obvious that, of course, there was no talk of stopping the construction and with regard to Donbass, Merkel announced the need for Ukraine to implement the "Steinmeier formula". As for the GTS, only an indefinite statement by the Chancellor was made about his interest in Ukraine continuing to be a transit country for Russian gas.

At the same time, there was an interview with Sergei Makogon, the General Director of the Operator of the Gas Transportation System of Ukraine, in which he called the only acceptable option for the country after the launch of NS-2 "a new contract for gas transit for 45-50 billion cubic meters of gas per year for the following 15 years with financial guarantees from European banks or companies ". On the same day, Zelensky repeated this statement verbatim.