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>
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<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>
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<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>