Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow was prepared to resume gas supplies to Europe and blamed leaks from Nordstream pipelines on “acts of terrorism” promoted by the US.
During an energy forum in Moscow, Putin accused the United States of being responsible for “international terrorist acts” behind the explosions that caused leaks in the Nordstream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.
The Russian leader said that these incidents benefit the United States, Poland and Ukraine, thus justifying the causes of the explosions.
“The beneficiaries are clear (…) Because [estes incidentes] reinforce the geopolitical importance of gas systems, that is, those that pass through the territory of Poland (…) and Ukraine, and which Russia built on its own. But they are also important for the United States, which can now distribute its energy at high prices,” Putin explained during the energy forum.
The United States had previously rejected similar accusations from Putin, and several European governments said the underwater explosions that hit the two Nord Stream gas pipelines were likely caused by acts of sabotage, unknown to the perpetrators.
Today, Putin reaffirmed that the attack on the pipelines was launched by those who want to weaken Europe by stopping the flow of cheap gas from Russia.
“Those who want to break the ties between Russia and the European Union are behind the acts of sabotage in Nord Stream,” the Russian president denounced.
Putin said that one of Nord Stream 2’s two distribution pipelines remains pressurized and appears ready to be used again, adding that its capacity is 27 billion cubic meters a year and that Russia is ready to activate it.
The Russian leader also said that Russia could increase the capacity of its gas exports to Turkey and eventually become a gas supply hub for Europe.
Putin again criticized Western countries’ plans to limit the prices of Russian energy exports and promised that Moscow “will not act against common sense.”
“We are not going to supply energy to countries that limit prices. (…) I would like to warn those who, instead of trade associations and market mechanisms, try to use tricks and blackmail,” warned the Russian leader.
Source: TSF
