Schroeder Says Europe Too Reliant On Ukraine

Gerhard Schroeder (right) with Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo) (CTK)

June 19, 2006 -- Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says Europe should cut its reliance on Ukraine as a key transit route for natural gas from Russia.

Schroeder now chairs the supervisory board of a consortium that will build a pipeline to carry gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Speaking in Moscow, Schroeder called Russia Europe's most reliable long-term source of energy and urged Europe to treat Russian companies fairly.

(Reuters)