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Attempts to block Nord Stream 2 do not meet European interests — Wintershall CEO

Certain East European countries attempt to disrupt implementation of the Nord Stream 2 and put pressure on Brussels, Mario Mehren said

KASSEL, March 7. /TASS/. Attempts to block implementation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project do not meet European interests, Chief Executive Officer of the German company Mario Mehren said on Wednesday.

"Certain East European countries attempt to disrupt implementation of the Nord Stream 2 and put pressure on Brussels. And such tricks are made there that they become a subject matter of criticism for the internal legal service. This may be a political consideration but it definitely does not meet interests of European consumers," Mehren said.

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Russian energy minister urges to speed up Nord Stream-2, Turkish Stream projects

Wintershall invested 324 mln euros in 2017 from 950 mln euros of its share, the top manager said. The company will continue project financing this year in scope requested by the project operator, he added.

The cold weather settling in Europe serves as one more argument in favor of the project, Mehren noted.

"It was very cold last week but you did not notice that because you received gas from Russia. Premises were heated well particularly owing to the Nord Stream. I would recommend not to overestimate influence of Poland. Too much attention should not be paid to countries accounting for 1 or 2% of the overall consumption in Europe," he added.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to come into service at the end of 2019. The pipeline is set to run from the Russian coast along the Baltic Sea bed to the German shore. Each of the pipeline’s two stretches will have a capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters. The new pipeline that is expected to connect the Russian resource base with European customers, will double the capacity of the first line and will basically follow its route. The total project cost of the Nord Stream-2 is estimated at 9.9 bln euros.

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A request for transit via the Sokhranovka gas pumping station was rejected

Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

KazMunayGas, Sibur, Sinopec sign protocol on plant construction in Kazakhstan

Construction of the plant in the Atyrau region is planned to be completed by 2029

Water level of Ishim River in Russia’s Tyumen Region surpasses dangerous mark

It has reached 911 centimeters

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

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Participation in ‘Columbine’ movement may result in life sentence — Prosecutor General

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Moscow demands international organizations condemn killing of Russian war correspondent

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UN secretary general urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to normalize relations

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Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

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The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

The IMF states that the restrictions led to the need to rebuild the economy

Hungarians in western Ukraine should get their rights back, Budapest says

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Kremlin spokesman offers condolences over death of Izvestia war correspondent

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Explosions reported in several Ukrainian regions

Blasts were also reported in the city of Dnepr and the Kiev-controlled city of Zaporozhye

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Ahmad Haghtalab said on April 18 that Tehran has identified the location of Israel's "nuclear centers" and will be ready to destroy them in case the Jewish state responds to the recent Iranian attack on Israeli military facilities

Russia delivers 34 strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure over week — top brass

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Russian instructors help train over 10,000 Central African troops — CAR president

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Air defenses repel Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Vasily Anokhin urged local residents to remain calm and refrain from filming air defenses in operation.

Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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