Ukraine is furious at Canada for waiving sanctions on a crucial pipeline part that Putin needs to sell gas to Europe

• Canada decided to return a key part of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, allowing it to resume operations.
• The repaired turbine was stuck in Canada due to sanctions imposed by the Canadian government.

Ukraine is furious at Canada for waiving sanctions on a crucial pipeline part that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to sell gas to Europe.

In his nightly address on Monday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Canada's decision to send a repaired turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline back to Germany was "absolutely unacceptable."

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline carries natural gas from Russia to Germany. Last month, Russia cut 40% of its natural gas supplies to Germany because the turbine sent to Canada for repairs was stuck there due to sanctions imposed by the Canadian government over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany, which relies heavily on Russian energy, had asked Canada to waive the sanctions and return the turbine. Over the weekend, Canada announced that the turbine would be sent back to Germany in a "time-limited and revocable" exemption to the sanctions, the Canadian Broadcasting Company reported.

Zelenskyy heavily criticized the move, saying in his Monday speech: "If a terrorist state can squeeze out such an exception to sanctions, what exceptions will it want tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?"

"This question is very dangerous ... not only for Ukraine, but also for all countries of the democratic world."

"The decision on the exception to sanctions will be perceived in Moscow exclusively as a manifestation of weakness," he said, adding that he had summoned Canada's ambassador over the decision.

Summoning a country's ambassador is a diplomatic move by a host country to signal its anger.

Zelenskyy also said there was "no doubt" that Russia would completely shut down its gas supply to Europe, echoing the French economic minister Bruno Le Maire's Sunday warning.

Germany's economy minister Robert Habeck has also said he fears Nord Stream 1 may not go back online after it closes for routine maintenance works from July 11 to July 21.

The US government has backed Canada's decision to return the turbine, saying it "will allow Germany and other European countries to replenish their gas reserves, increasing their energy security and resiliency and countering Russia's efforts to weaponize energy," Bloomberg reported.

Ukraine and Canada have an otherwise close relationship, with Canada sending weapons to Ukraine to help fight Russia and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meeting Zelenskyy in Kyiv this May.

A spokesperson for the Canadian government did not immaturely respond to Insider's request for comment.

Germany — Europe's largest economy — is heavily dependent on natural gas from Russia, though it plans to wean itself off the imports by 2024. European countries are scrambling to reduce their reliance on Russian energy in light of the Ukraine war.