Photo: The Canadian Press
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks to reporters before heading to question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, June 23, 2022. Freeland says Canada’s decision to send back repaired parts of a Russian natural gas pipeline in Germany was a difficult decision, but the right one. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Canada’s decision last week to send repaired parts of a Russian natural gas pipeline back to Germany was difficult but necessary, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Saturday.
The Liberals have faced sharp criticism from Ukraine for exempting six Siemens Energy turbines, which were serviced in Montreal and help supply gas to parts of Germany, from sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on a teleconference after a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Bali, Indonesia, Freeland said he understood Ukraine’s reaction but defended the government’s move as the right one under the circumstances.
“It was a very difficult decision for Canada and I understand the concern that Ukraine has about it, but it was the right thing to do,” Freeland said.
“Canada is united and resolute in its support of the people of Ukraine, we have contributed $3.4 billion in total financial and military support, and I am proud that Canada has led the way in many ways in supporting Ukraine and opposing (Russian President) Vladimir Putin .”
But Canada alone cannot provide Ukraine with the support it needs, Freeland said, adding that a concerted effort by Canada’s other G7 members and the transatlantic alliance is needed to provide that support. .
Freeland said Germany was clear that the pipeline, operated by Russia’s state energy company Gazprom, could be a problem for its leaders. Russia cut gas supplies by 60 percent last month from its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which runs to northeastern Germany, citing technical problems with the turbines.
“Canada heard very clearly from our German allies that Germany’s ability to maintain its support for Ukraine could be at risk,” Freeland said. The United States publicly supported Canada’s decision to return the turbines, a position Freeland described as very important.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, condemned the decision as “absolutely unacceptable” earlier this week.
“The decision to exempt from sanctions will be perceived in Moscow exclusively as a manifestation of weakness. This is their logic,” he said, adding that Russia will now try to limit or stop gas supplies to Europe at the most critical moment.
In Ottawa, opposition MPs demanded on Friday that senior Liberal ministers explain the controversial decision during a special meeting of the foreign affairs committee sometime next week.
The Liberals agreed to have Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson answer questions.
Conservatives called on Freeland to come forward, saying she disagreed with the ruling that the Liberals were trying to cover up her testimony before her comments on Saturday.
The committee will also invite the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress and the ambassadors of Ukraine, Germany and the European Union to Canada to testify.
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