During a forthcoming meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to discuss the security threat to Ukraine and the whole of Europe through the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and will insist on the priority of security over economic feasibility. The President made this statement at a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda in Vilnius.
"I will have an important meeting with Mrs. Merkel in terms of energy security not only of Ukraine, but also of Europe. It is fortunate that Europe does not yet feel these threats from the construction of Nord Stream 2. But in this matter, the countries of the European Union are divided. The issue of Nord Stream 2 is a global one. We will talk about this with the esteemed Mrs. Angela Merkel. And we will not divide the issue of Nord Stream 2 and security. We do not sell Ukrainians and we do not sell the lives of our people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to the President of Ukraine, it is sometimes difficult to find a balance between security and the economy, but Nord Stream is a "litmus test” that shows what is a higher priority for certain countries.
"When you don't feel you're in danger, you think about the economy. When you have a war, you think first of all about people's lives. I believe that humanity comes first. And I believe that security prevails over the economy," said the President of Ukraine.
