Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the “unprecedented sabotage” of the Nord Stream natural-gas pipelines “an act of international terrorism.”
Putin made the comment over a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoan, according to the readout by Kremlin.
Similarly, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the damage to Nord Stream appeared to be due to state-sponsored terrorism, Reuters reported on Thursday.
“This looks like an act of terrorism, possibly on a state level,” said Peskov. “It is very difficult to imagine that such an act of a terrorism could have happened without the involvement of a state of some kind.”
Leaks to the key Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines transporting natural-gas from Russia to Europe were first detected on Monday in the Danish region of the Baltic Sea. More leaks have since been discovered, with Sweden on Wednesday announcing it detected a fourth leak, Business Insider reported.
Denmark is a member of NATO, while Sweden has applied to join the organization.
On its part, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said in a Thursday statement, that the damage is the “result of deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage.” It has threatened to retaliate, stating: “Any deliberate attack against Allies’ critical infrastructure would be met with a united and determined response.”
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday pointed accused finger to the US, saying it would benefit from the leaks because the US would be able to export more liquefied natural gas if the pipelines couldn’t work.
The leaks had happened in areas “fully under the control of US intelligence,” Zakharova told Soloviev Live, according to the news agency. “It happened in the trade and economic zones of Denmark and Sweden. There are NATO-centric countries,” said Zakharova.
Zakharova also demanded an explanation from President Joe Biden on “whether the United States acted on its threat” to “end #Nordstream.”
Joe Biden had on February 7 said that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be halted if Russia invades Ukraine.
In its reaction, the White House rejected the allegations of the US being responsible for the leaks. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a Wednesday press briefing, that Biden was referring to how the Nord Stream 2 wouldn’t commence working.
“The President said that NS2 wouldn’t become operational and we would work with Germany on that,” said Jean-Pierre. “And he was right, because Germany took the step in February to freeze it, which was widely reported by all of you. And so that is what the President was talking about at that time.”
The Nord Stream 2, worth $11 billion, was finished in September 2021, but has stood idle pending certification by Germany and the European Union.
However, on February 22, Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 after Russia formally recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
The Baltic Sea gas pipeline project was designed to double the flow of Russian gas direct to Germany,
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
