[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RUSSIA ENERGY INTERESTS IN EUROPE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2018

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, control of energy equals national security.
  I rise to warn how Russia through hybrid warfare seeks to destabilize 
and divide our closest European Allies through control of their energy 
supply. As Americans well know, whoever controls the energy spigot, 
controls the function of a nation. Russia uses its growing dominance of 
energy in Europe as its primary pressure point to destabilize the West 
and our alliances.
  That is why I was floored that President Trump inserted himself so 
haphazardly into Europe's energy debate. Nord Stream II poses new, 
troubling dependency threats by Russia on Europe's energy security.
  It boosts undemocratic Russia's claw hold on the European continent.
  Russia is weaponizing energy in countries across Europe, including 
Germany and Ukraine, creating a dangerous new dependency by recipient 
nations. The fight for Ukraine's liberty depends on its energy 
independence in the future. The free world must help Europe and Ukraine 
to reduce their economic reliance on Russian gas.
  Risking alienation of nations that share freedom's values is 
counterproductive. It aids and abets our enemies.
  I include in the Record President Trump's and Putin's comments.

  Excerpt of President Trump's and President Putin's Press Conference 
             Following Their Summit in Helsinki, July 2018


 Responses to a question about energy in Europe and the Nordstream II 
                            pipeline project

       Trump: Well, actually I called him a competitor. And a good 
     competitor he is. And I think the word ``competitor'' is a 
     compliment. I think that we will be completing when you talk 
     about the pipeline. I'm not sure, necessarily, that it's in 
     the best interests of Germany or not, but that was a decision 
     that they made. We'll be competing--as you know, the United 
     States is now--or soon will be, but I think it actually is 
     right now the largest in the oil and gas world.
       So we're going to be selling LNG, and we'll have to be 
     competing with the pipeline and I think we'll compete 
     successfully, although there is a little advantage 
     locationally.
       So I just wish them luck. I mean, I did. I discussed with 
     Angela Merkel in pretty strong tones. But I also know where 
     they're all coming from and they have a very close source. So 
     we'll see how that all works out.
       Putin: We are aware of the stance of President Trump, and I 
     think that we, as a major oil and gas power, and the United 
     States as a major oil and gas power as well, we could work 
     together on regulation of international markets, because 
     neither of us is actually interested in the plummeting of the 
     prices. And the consumers will suffer as well, and the 
     consumers in the United States will suffer as well. And the 
     shale gas production will suffer. Because beyond a sudden 
     price breakup (ph), it's no longer profitable to--to produce 
     gas.
       But nor we are interested in driving prices up, because it 
     will drain just as--just as from all other sectors of the 
     economy, from (inaudible) building (ph), et cetera. So we do 
     have space for cooperation here.
       That's the first thing.
       Then about the Nord Stream 2, Mr. President voiced his 
     concerns about the possibility of disappearance of transit 
     through Ukraine. And I reassured Mr. President that Russia 
     stands ready to maintain this transit. Moreover, we stand 
     ready to extend this transit contract that's about to expire 
     next year in case--if the dispute between the economic 
     entitles--dispute will be settled in the Stockholm 
     arbitration court.

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