For subscribers: Get exclusive political news and analysis by subscribing to Political information. Ottawa has bowed to German pressure and will return a Russian gas turbine to Germany which Moscow has deemed critical to the flow of natural gas to Europe. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the decision in a statement on Saturday. He said the Canadian government is sending back the turbine at the urging of Germany and other European countries, which are trying to replenish natural gas reserves for the coming winter months. The grounded turbine, which was undergoing repairs at a Siemens facility in Montreal, will be sent to Germany, whose government will then hand it over to Russia. The indirect process would allow Canada to say it has not waived the sanctions it imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. These restrictions prohibit the export of certain goods and technologies to Russia, including the turbine. The Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress opposed the move, saying it would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and undermine Canada’s commitment to full sanctions against Russia. Russian state gas company Gazprom has blamed the missing turbine for its decision to cut capacity along the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany, by up to 60%. Germany faces the prospect of energy constraints unless Russia allows more gas to flow. “Canada will grant a time-limited and revocable license to Siemens Canada to allow the return of repaired Nordstream 1 turbines to Germany, supporting Europe’s ability to access reliable and affordable energy as they continue to move away from Russian oil and natural gas”. Wilkinson said in his statement. “If there is not the 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.” Russia has an extra turbine it could put into operation, and German officials have said Moscow is using the imposed turbine as an excuse to put economic pressure on Europe. The turbine’s return would eliminate that excuse, German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said earlier this week in an appeal to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In his statement, Mr. Wilkinson explained why Canada is acting to help Germany at the expense of sanctions that were meant to help Ukraine. “Ahead of the winter months, the Russian regime and its propaganda arms are seeking to exploit the instability they have created to justify further destabilizing European energy security,” he said. “In doing so, President Putin also hopes to sow division among the Allies, who have shown unprecedented unity in support of Ukraine. We cannot allow this to happen.” He added that Canada will continue to impose sanctions on Moscow and is working with European leaders to end dependence on Russian gas imports as soon as possible and stabilize energy markets. Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, issued a strongly worded statement, saying the government has bowed to “Russian blackmail.” “In accepting Germany’s request, Canada will not only violate Russia’s policy of isolation, but will set a dangerous precedent that will lead to a weakening of the sanctions regime imposed on Russia,” he said. He added that the consequences of Canada’s “capitulation to Russian ultimatums” would be far-reaching. “A precedent has been set where the Russians know that at the first sign of trouble, our government will succumb to Russian blackmail and energy terrorism. Inevitably this will embolden Russia to further aggression – making Ukraine, the European Union and Canada less safe.” Ms Chyczij added that the Kremlin’s appeasement in the past led to the Russian occupation of Crimea and Donbass in 2014 and the widespread attack on Ukraine on February 24 this year. “This decision will ensure that the coffers of the Russian state budget will continue to be filled with European money that will be used to finance Russia’s genocide against the Ukrainian people,” he said. Ukraine’s embassy said Kyiv would make an official statement on Sunday. In a sign of displeasure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired his ambassador to Germany on Saturday. He also fired envoys to India, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary. The Trudeau government moved quickly on Saturday to soften the criticism by announcing new sanctions on Russia. Secretary of State Melanie Jolie said in a statement that the restrictions would apply to “pipeline transportation and the manufacturing of metals and transportation, computers, electronic and electrical equipment, and machinery.” Once the measures take effect, he said, Canadian businesses will have 60 days to enter into contracts with targeted Russian industries and services. Sabine Sparwasser, Germany’s envoy to Canada, expressed her country’s gratitude to Ottawa for the turbine’s release. “We know it wasn’t easy. But it is vital that we help Canada’s European Allies steadily build independence from Russian Energy and that preserves our unity,” she said in a statement. Germany remains an ally of Ukraine in the war against Russia through military and economic support and through its support for Kiev’s bid to join the European Union, he added. Mr Trudeau came under intense pressure from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who raised the turbine issue with him at the G7 summit in late June. Mr Scholz plans a trade visit to Canada on August 22 and 23 to push for the construction of LNG export facilities on Canada’s east coast, which would allow Europe to replace some of its Russian supply with Canadian fuel. Germany is also interested in investing in green hydrogen projects and mining critical minerals essential to the country’s automotive, chemical and high-tech industries.
