HELSINKI, July 16 - Vladimir Putin said that President Trump shouldn’t worry about the Nord Stream 2 gas line into Europe shutting out Ukraine from its traditional position as transit route, Reuters reported.

“Donald told me his thoughts on Nord Stream 2 and said that he is worried that we will use it to no longer rely on Ukraine,” Putin said during a press conference after a closed-door meeting with Trump in Finland on Monday. “We want to extend our contract with Ukraine, but it is based on what the Stockholm arbitrage rulings look like,” he said about the years-long legal battle being waged between Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz.

The two sides have been locked in a legal tug of war since 2014, with Naftogaz winning as many fights as it loses. The legal case disputes transit contracts and payments. Should Russia lose this case, it will make a new transit contract more complicated for Naftogaz. If so, Nord Stream 2 critics will be proven correct as Gazprom would likely seek to avoid working fully with Naftogaz if hit with massive legal fines.

Nord Stream 2 pipes are now being placed right alongside the existing Nord Stream pipeline. The pipeline connects Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Gazprom is the majority owner of the venture, with German partners Wintershall and British giant Royal Dutch Shell counted on as partners.

Putin’s comment today that Ukraine will still be part of Gazprom’s plans was by no means an olive branch being offered by the Russians. Much hinges on Swedish judges.

Putin met with Trump for a little over two hours on Monday. There was no official agenda, and the two supposedly made one up on the fly. A press conference was held shortly afterward.

Trump said the U.S. considers Russia a “strong competitor” in the oil and gas markets. He added that U.S. LNG exporters will work hard to increase their market share in Europe. Both Russia and the U.S. have become direction setters for world oil prices, surpassing the previous importance placed on OPEC members. (rt/ez)