Ukraine ‘deeply disappointed’ as Canada approves turbine return to Russia’s Gazprom

Ukraine‘s energy and foreign ministers are condemning the decision by the Canadian government to allow Germany to return controversial turbines being serviced in Canada to Russia‘s Gazprom.In a statement published on the Ukrainian government’s energy ministry website Sunday afternoon, the ministers said they were “deeply disappointed” by Canada’s decision and urged the government to reverse it.

In the statement, they added that returning the turbine would amount to adjusting the sanctions imposed on Moscow “to the whims of Russia.”Gazprom has blamed the turbines for its decision to halve the flow of gas to Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas and recently declared an “alarm stage” over looming gas shortages.

Germans urged to prepare for possible gas shortage amid Russia’s war The turbines from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline had been sent to Montreal for a scheduled overhaul but their return has been complicated by sanctions imposed on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Germany has pressed Canada to let it return the turbines to Russia despite the sanctions and despite Russia’s continued assault on Ukraine.Canada’s minister of natural resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, said in a statement late Saturday that “Canada will grant a time-limited and revocable permit for Siemens Canada to allow the return of repaired Nord Stream 1 turbines to Germany.”That, Wilkinson said in the statement posted on Twitter, will support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as they continue to transition away from Russian oil and gas.”He said that “absent a necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very significant hardship.”Siemens says it will aim to get the turbine back as soon as.