Russia demands US explanation for Nord Stream gas pipeline leak

Duy Anh• September 29, 2022 08:33

A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry hinted that the US was behind the leak of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, but did not provide specific evidence.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Photo:Reuters.

Speaking on September 28, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that US President Joe Biden "has an obligation" to answer whether Washington was behind the leak of the two Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.AFPreport

"On February 7, Mr. Biden said Nord Stream would end if Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine. Mr. Biden is obliged to answer the question of whether the United States will follow through on its threats," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Earlier, former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on Twitter thanking the US for the leak of two Nord Stream pipelines,TASSreport

Mr. Sikorski said that the disruption of the Nord Stream pipeline will force Russia to discuss with the countries controlling the two gas pipelines Druzhba and Yamal in case Moscow wants to increase the amount of gas sold to Europe.

"Former Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski thanked the US for the incident with the Russian gas pipeline. Is that an official statement confirming this was an attack?", Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova criticized.

Ms Zakharova did not provide specific evidence of any party's involvement in the leak.

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were found to be leaking earlier this week.

In a statement on September 27, the company that operates the Nord Stream pipeline said the damage to both gas pipelines running through the Baltic Sea was unprecedented. The company did not say when the pipelines would be back in operation.

At the time the leak was detected, both pipelines were in a non-operational state.