Berlin set its course on Ukraine’s transit role – a German government representative

Berlin has clearly defined its course on Ukraine's transit role and is doing everything in its power to implement it.

The official representative of the Federal Government of Germany Steffen Seibert stated this at a briefing, Ukrinform reports.

"For us, with Nord Stream 2, it's clear and important that Ukraine remains a gas transit country. We've campaigned for this and, thank God, we can contribute together with the European Union, namely in signing the Treaty on gas transit between Ukraine and Russia. Thus, the course was determined," Seibert said.

He noted that the Treaty, signed at the end of 2019, would be valid until the end of 2024 and provided for the possibility of extending it until 2034.

The spokesperson didn't predict how the gas pipeline would be discussed during the meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel on the evening of July 12. He added that both leaders would make brief statements to the press.

"If there's something that the general public needs to know, it will be communicated," Seibert said. He stressed that the attitude of the federal government is known to the public, the press, and the Ukrainian party.

As reported, the meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi with German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled for the evening.

On the eve of the visit, the Ukrainian leader said that one of the main topics he wanted to discuss with the German prime minister was Nord Stream 2 in the context of Ukraine's security.

At the same time, talks between the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko and the Chairperson of the Board of Naftogaz Yurii Vitrenko and the Minister of Economy and Energy of Germany Peter Altmayer are taking place in Berlin on July 12.