Ukraine needs NATO membership to counter Nord Stream 2 threat, Ukraine's Naftogaz says

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Ukraine should be given NATO membership to guarantee its security as Russia is using the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as a geopolitical weapon, the head of Ukraine’s state energy firm Naftogaz Yuriy Vitrenko told Reuters on Wednesday.

Vitrenko was speaking shortly before Germany and the United States unveiled a deal that spells out the consequences for Russia if it uses the new $11 billion project to harm Ukraine or other eastern European countries.

Speaking on a video call during a visit to Washington D.C., Vitrenko said Russian President Vladimir Putin “is now using gas as a geopolitical weapon against Ukraine and the whole region.”

“Since our concerns are for example first and foremost about the security, NATO membership would probably address this security concern.”