Nord Stream pipeline. Photo from open sources
Moscow and Washington are in talks over the possible reopening of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, which were decommissioned after explosions in 2022. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the United States may try to influence Europe on this issue.
Negotiations on the future of Nord Stream
According to Sergey Lavrov, the Nord Stream issue remains on the international political agenda. Speaking on Russian television, he noted that the US could use its influence on Europe to force it to resume imports of Russian gas.
“These people are either crazy or suicidal,” Lavrov commented on the position of Berlin and Brussels, which have said they will not connect the pipelines under any circumstances.
One of the two Nord Stream 2 pipelines remains physically usable, which is of interest to potential investors. According to unofficial information, the US and Russia could discuss the participation of US companies in the project as part of a broader peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine.
Sabotage in 2022: does the trail lead to Ukraine?
The explosions that disabled Nord Stream 1 and 2 remain an unsolved case. According to the Washington Post and German media, the operation could have been carried out by Ukrainian special forces, although official Kyiv categorically denies this.
Germany has issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor suspected of organising the bombing, but his interrogation is impossible because he is in Ukraine.
Other sources, such as American journalist Seymour Hersh, hypothesised that the explosives were planted by US Navy divers with Norwegian support. However, the White House denied these allegations.
Germany is against, the US supplies LNG
Although Nord Stream 2 remains partially operational, Germany has not accepted Russia’s offer of gas supplies. This is due to the new EU policy of reducing dependence on Russian energy.
Instead of pipeline gas, Europe buys liquefied natural gas (LNG), in particular from the United States. However, this option is more expensive, as it requires tanker transportation and processing in special terminals.
Nevertheless, Berlin and the European Commission remain firm in their decision not to restore Nord Stream, even if it means economic losses for German industry.
