European MPs who oppose Nord Stream-2 possibly pin hopes on firewood, says Moscow
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has speculated that the European legislators who voted for the resolution against the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project must be pinning their hopes either on global warming or firewood.

"Some countries are closing down nuclear power plants. Also, they plan to stop using Russian natural gas. Will they opt for firewood? But the place where firewood can be obtained is well known," she told a news briefing on Thursday.

"Opposing energy cooperation and its diversification and measures to adjust it to modern trends is madness for Europe, which needs fuel," Zakharova said. "If the European legislators really pin their hopes on global warming, then yes, this may turn out a reasonable solution in the long term. The waiting period is a great problem, though."

"This is not the first time Russia is faced with a situation where European politicians block peaceful, beneficial and promising energy projects," Zakharova remarked. "These politicians, many of whom position themselves as the advocates of other people’s interests in fact are on the payroll of groups of lobbyists and in some cases special agencies," Zakharova said.

"Whose interests do these people represent? Those who say they protect the interests of the average Europeans are telling lies," she said. "Ordinary people want to keep their homes warm and the thermal power to be provided for optimal money."

Zakharova stated that Russia as a diligent partner was prepared to provide the product of proper quality at fair prices.

The European Parliament on December 12 adopted a resolution on the report On Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which condemned the construction of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline, that being a political project that poses a threat to the European energy security and efforts on diversification of energy supply sources. According to the resolution, the European Parliament requests cancellation of the project.