Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement on Saturday that the government is issuing a “limited and revocable permit” to exempt the return of the turbines from Russian sanctions to support “Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy. as they continue to move away from Russian oil and gas.” Wilkinson said the export license was issued after discussions with “our European friends and allies” and the International Energy Agency. Russia’s Gazprom cut capacity on its Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Europe to just 40% of usual levels last month, citing a delayed return of equipment serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada. The Kremlin said on Friday it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbine is returned. The part is required for maintenance work that will begin on Monday. Canada – which is under pressure from Germany to find a way to return the turbine – said that “in the absence of a necessary supply of natural gas, the German economy will suffer very significant difficulties and the Germans themselves will be at risk of not being able to heat their homes as winter approaches.” Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, said Saturday “our community is deeply disappointed by the Canadian government’s decision to bow to Russian blackmail.” The group said Canada is setting “a dangerous precedent that will lead to a weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia.” Canada has one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas in the world outside of countries bordering Ukraine and has urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to refuse to compromise the country’s sanctions against Russia over the turbines. Ukraine has objected to the delivery of the turbine by Canada and Kyiv believes such a move would defy sanctions against Russia, a Ukrainian energy ministry source told Reuters on Thursday. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie insisted on Saturday that “Canada is unwavering in its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine … Canada will not bow to pressure from the Russian regime.” Canada also announced it would expand sanctions against Russia’s energy sector to include manufacturing. The new sanctions “will apply to land transport and pipelines and metal and transport manufacturing, computers, electronic and electrical equipment, and machinery,” it said. The turbine will first be sent to Germany, which will then deliver it to Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom, a government source told Reuters earlier this week. The German government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday, but confirmed on Friday that it had received a positive message from Canada about the turbine.
