The prime minister said that while it was “a very difficult decision,” Russia was trying to “weaponize energy as a way of creating division between allies” and that Canada’s move was made to help Germany in the short term as other European countries work to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and natural gas. “Canada has been one of the strongest countries in the world on Ukraine’s side,” Trudeau said during a news conference in Kingston, Ont. on Wednesday, pledging continued support such as sanctions, while citing the billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid offered to date. The turbines, part of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, were sent to Siemens Canada in Montreal for repairs, but once the federal government imposed sanctions on Russian state energy company Gazprom, the company was limited to sending the equipment back. On Saturday, Canada announced it had decided to grant a “time-limited and revocable permit” to allow the return of the equipment. Canada has faced pressure from both Russia and Germany to return the turbines to Germany, fearing the risk of further energy instability. The energy giant claimed it needed the turbines to continue supplying Germany after it already significantly reduced the flow of natural gas through the pipeline, prompting Germans to express concern about a lack of reserves. “The countries of Europe, especially Germany, have massively stepped up their support for Ukraine as well, and we must stand together, especially in the face of Russia’s efforts to weaponize energy policy, to divide us among ourselves,” Trudeau said. adding that Canada’s sanctions are intended to target and punish “Putin and his cronies,” not other allied countries. And that’s exactly why we’ve taken this difficult decision, to be there for our allies, to make sure that in Europe — not just the governments, but the people — they remain steadfast and generous in their support for Ukraine.”
UKRAINIAN CONGRESS TRYING TO CANCEL LICENSE
The controversial decision – while supported by the US and the EU – has been strongly condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as federal opposition parties. And, now he faces a legal challenge. On Tuesday night the Ukrainian World Congress announced that it had filed for a judicial review of the decision in the Federal Court, arguing that the granting of the license was “not reasonable, transparent or properly authorized”. “Over the past few days, the Ukrainian World Congress together with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress have asked the Government of Canada to withdraw the resignation… To date, our efforts have been unsuccessful and we have had no choice but to take legal action,” he said in a statement. of Congress. “It’s not just about one turbine or possibly many turbines to support Russia’s energy exports, it’s about continued under-cycling to Russia’s blackmail. This could be Siemens’ moment,” said the World Congress President and CEO of Ukraine, Paul Grod, on the attempt to revoke the license. Zelensky said Canada’s decision was more than just wrong to decide to hand over the turbines, but an “absolutely unacceptable exception to the sanctions regime against Russia” that sets a troubling precedent. While initially billed by Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson as a “time-limited and revocable permit,” the agreement allows six turbines to run which, according to his office, “are subject to a regular maintenance schedule” that will be allowed to run. moving forward, with the ability to revoke permission at any time. Backing Canada’s decision to return the turbines, the European Commission says that by doing so, “one of the excuses used by Russia for reduced gas flows has been removed.” “The Commission continues to work closely with its international partners, including Canada and the United States, to ensure Europe’s energy security for the coming winter,” the Commission said. Along with the decision to return key pieces of the pipeline’s infrastructure, the federal government announced a new round of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and gas sector, and Trudeau pledged on Wednesday that “increasingly strong” sanctions are to come.
