Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Kyiv summoned the Canadian ambassador over Ottawa's decision to return a repaired gas pipeline turbine to Germany after completing maintenance on the equipment.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to summon Canada's envoy to our country due to an absolutely unacceptable exception to the sanctions regime against Russia," Zelenskiy said on July 11 in his nightly address.
Zelenskiy said he believes the decision is dangerous not only for Ukraine, but also for all democracies.
"If a terrorist state can squeeze out such an exception to sanctions, what exceptions will it want tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? This question is very dangerous. It is dangerous not only for Ukraine, but also for all countries of the democratic world," he said.
Zelenskiy also said the decision "will be perceived in Moscow exclusively as a manifestation of weakness."
He said Europe can expect that Russia will try not only to limit gas flow as much as possible, but also to completely stop the supply "at the most acute moment."
The Canadian government on July 10 said it would return the repaired Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline turbine to Germany after completing maintenance on the equipment.
The turbine is scheduled to be sent first to Germany, then transferred to Russia's state-owned Gazprom -- operator of the pipeline -- so that Canada will not violate Western sanctions placed on Russia.
Canada said at the same time it would expand sanctions against Russia's energy sector to include industrial manufacturing.
Earlier on July 11, Russia said it would suspend gas shipments to Germany on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for 10 days beginning on July 11 as it conducts annual maintenance work.
But some in Germany have expressed fears that the Kremlin could find, or create, a reason to extend the stoppage as a way of punishing Berlin for its support of Ukraine following Russia's February 24 invasion of its neighbor.
The announcement of the supply suspension came after the Canadian government on July 10 said it would return a repaired Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline turbine to Germany after completing maintenance on the equipment.
The turbine is scheduled to be sent first to Germany, then transferred to Russia’s state-owned Gazprom -- operator of the pipeline -- so that Canada will not violate Western sanctions placed on Russia.
Gazprom last month cut the capacity along the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 40 percent of normal levels, pointing to the delayed return of the equipment being serviced by Germany's Siemens Energy in Canada.
Moscow on July 8 said it would increase gas supplies to Europe if the turbine was returned.
The work on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was scheduled long in advance, but some people in the West have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use energy supplies as a political weapon.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia is using oil and gas to exert political pressure, saying the shutdown was a regular scheduled event.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline transports 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year of gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
Moscow has cut off gas supplies to several European countries that did not comply with its demand for payment in rubles.
German is heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies and has warned that its economy could be pushed into recession if Russian gas flows are halted for an extended period.
