Basically Ukraine gets loads of money for having the pipeline run through their country. They used to get gas from Russia at mates rates, when Ukraine decided they’ve got a new best friend in Europe, Russia put the gas price up in Ukraine, which they didn’t like and refused so Russia ended up turning the pipe off on New Year’s Day, just read it was 2009 but thought it was later than that.
Anyway, that’s when things got a bit shit between the two.
Nord stream 2 means gas goes directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea, Ukraine don’t want this, and neither do Poland, as they both want the transit money.
The joke of cancelling Nord stream 2 is if Russia invade Ukraine, they don’t need nord stream 2 as they’ll have the Ukrainian pipeline. That said, that doesn’t increase the amount of gas they can deliver in the short term. But what Russia can’t deliver in pipes they turn into LNG and ship anyway, however it’s more expensive.
Europe doesn’t want the resilience on Russian gas, because if they have an argument the Russians then hold the cards, but Europe haven’t spent the money on renewables that they should have, because they’re stupid. So now Europe are all a bit fucked. Except maybe France as they use nuclear for electricity, most power plants use gas you see, so a high gas price equals a high electricity price too.
Ukraine want to join NATO after their falling out, Russia won’t have it and will invade Ukraine before that happens and have already annexed Crimea in 2014.
The west have their hands tied as they need Russian resources. So even if they want to get involved, it’ll only be by proxy.