US 'Demands Control' Of Key Pipeline In Ukraine Used To Send Russian Gas To Europe: Report

<p>The US has demanded control of a crucial pipeline in Ukraine which is used to transport gas from Russia to Europe, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p> <p>On Friday, officials from the US and Ukraine met to discuss White House proposals for a minerals deal.&nbsp;</p> <p>Under the deal, US President Donald Trump wants Kyiv to hand over its natural resources as a "payback" for the weapons given by Washington during the previous Biden administration.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/i14zPlT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US-Iran Begin 'Indirect' Talks In Oman Over Nuclear Program After Trump&rsquo;s Airstrikes Threat</a></strong></p> <p>As per the report, the talks have become increasingly acrimonious with the latest US draft being more "maximalist" than the original version from February. The earlier draft proposed giving the US $500 billion worth of rare metals, as well as oil and gas.&nbsp;</p> <p>The report, quoting a source with knowledge of the matter, further stated that prospects for a breakthrough were scant given the meeting's "antagonistic" atmosphere.&nbsp;</p> <h2>US Demands Control Of Crucial Pipeline In Ukraine</h2> <p>One of the "Easter eggs" found in the document, the report said, was a demand by the US that its government's International Development Finance Corporation take control of a natural gas pipeline from Russian energy giant Gazprom that runs across Ukraine to supply energy to Europe.&nbsp;</p> <p>The pipeline runs from the town of Sudzha in western Russia to the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, about 1,200 kilometres away, on the border with the European Union and Slovakia.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/wXaunhK" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Russia Deliberately Targets Indian Businesses&rsquo;: Ukraine Claims Missile Strike on Pharma Warehouse</a></strong></p> <p>It was built in Soviet times and is a key piece of national infrastructure and a major energy route.</p> <p>On January 1, Ukraine had cut off the gas supply after its five-year contract with Gazprom expired. Both countries have previously earned hundreds of millions of euros in transit fees, including the first three years of full-scale war.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that a mineral deal should be profitable for both countries and could be structured in a way that helps modernise Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-ukraine-minerals-deal-demands-control-of-key-pipeline-used-to-send-russian-gas-to-europe-report-1764849