russian energy needs to upgrade the infrastructure a pilot project financed by dr bank and underwritten by german export guarantees will see the multi-million euro compressors successively replaced but the question is will they ever really be needed. the north stream pipeline linking russia and germany directly across the baltic sea see here to be joined by second street to construction is due to get underway later this year the new pipeline will be able to transport some fifty five billion cubic meters of gas equivalent to two thirds of the cast transiting ukraine on average in recent years the projects critics in ukraine stream to would mean more than just empty pipelines and transit income. they say will increase europe's dependence on russian energy and allow the kremlin to put political pressure what it's called the eastern european satellite states by halting supplies without endangering deliveries to its peak western european customers feel that something north streams backers including former german