On the Bratsva Pipeline through the Ukraine: Russia Says What Europe Wants To Hear

In what could be seen as a sop to placate nervous European and American powers over the future shipment of Russian gas through Nord Stream 2 to Germany, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow is amenable to further shipments of gas via the existing Bratsva and Soyuz pipeline systems, providing certain conditions are met.

"I underline this particularly," Medvedev said, "we don't reject transit through existing pipelines ... we are ready to maintain gas transit through Ukrainian pipelines after 2019."

The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipelines would obviate the Russian need of shipping gas through the Ukraine to reach European markets. Ensuring that the Ukraine would remain a vital part of the Russian supply network would complement the overall supply system and help heal the rift between the Ukraine and its Russian neighbor.