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Yuriy Vitrenko, CEO of Ukrainian energy giant Naftogaz, has told Express.co.uk that the bloc members could sabotage their unit after Putin reportedly cut gas flows into the EU. Putin is awaiting approval from European regulators for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will transport gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine and Poland.
Gazprom, the state-owned Russian gas company, has reportedly restricted the flow of gas from existing pipelines to keep the new pipeline from being subject to EU regulations.
Vitrenko has claimed that the pipeline deal struck between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Russian President could leave the EU weak and divided.
He told Express.co.uk: “Putin is strong and the West is weak.
“Europe will be much more divided and morally damaged because many countries like Hungary could say ‘Don’t look at us that we are doing business with Putin when you are doing business with him yourself’.
“Some other countries might say, ‘Don’t tell us about fighting corruption if Nord Stream 2 could become a symbol of Western corruption’.”
Mr. Vitrenko stressed that Western values ​​and his supposed global reputation are at stake.
He warned: “Putin wants to bring Europe back to its level from this higher moral ground so that it will even send a signal to its own electorate in Russia when he says the West is corrupt, as you say I am corrupt.
“It can show that the West is weak, the West is corrupt and its regime is somehow superior.
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“As we saw with Brexit, there is already a lot of pressure on the EU, so put more pressure on the EU and divide Europe, question the foundations of the EU and the rule of law.”
“Of course it doesn’t make Europe stronger, it makes Europe weaker and we will see a lot of pressure on the EU as a bloc, as a union, and that is exactly what Putin wants.”
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