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SOCHI, Oct 5. Russian President Vladimir Putin, answering the question of who is to blame for the terrorist attacks on Nord Stream, said that first it is necessary to answer the question of who is interested in this; in his opinion, this is the American supplier of energy resources to the European market.
“And finally, in answer to the question, who is to blame, you always need to answer the question, who is interested in this? Of course, the American supplier of energy resources to the European market is interested. The Americans have wanted this for a long time, and they achieved it, but with whose hands “This no longer matters,” Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, answering questions about the terrorist attack on Nord Stream.
But there is another component to this whole problem, he added. “Of course, if it is ever revealed who did this, we must be held accountable. This is an act of international terrorism,” the Russian head of state emphasized.
At the same time, Putin recalled, one branch of Nord Stream 2 remains intact, it is not damaged, and it can supply 27.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe.
“This is only a decision of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, nothing more is needed. Today is the decision — tomorrow we turn the valve and that’s it, and the gas flows. But they don’t do this. Because, as we say, the Washington regional committee does not allow it to the detriment of own interests,” noted the President of the Russian Federation.
The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022 at two Russian gas export pipelines to Europe — Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2. Germany, Denmark and Sweden have not ruled out targeted sabotage. The Nord Stream operator Nord Stream AG reported that the damage to gas pipelines is unprecedented and the time frame for repairs is impossible to estimate. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has initiated a case of an act of international terrorism.
American journalist, Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh published his investigation on February 8, in which, citing a source, he stated that explosive devices under Russian gas pipelines were planted in June 2022 under the cover of the Baltops exercises US Navy divers with the support of Norwegian specialists. According to Hersh, the decision on the operation was made by US President Joe Biden following nine months of discussions with administration officials involved in national security issues. Later, the Pentagon stated that the United States had nothing to do with the bombing of Russian gas pipelines.
Putin's speech at the plenary meeting of the Valdai Club. Online report >>