There is no doubt that the damage to the two Nord Stream pipelines was a deliberate act of sabotage. Ukraine sees Russia behind the attack. Moscow wants to destabilize the economic situation in Europe and cause “panic before winter,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office said Tuesday. Now the former Polish Defense Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is causing a stir with his assessment. In a tweet, the EU politician thanked the United States for the damage.
In the very succinct message, the 59-year-old conservative politician wrote under a photo of the large-scale gas leak in the Baltic Sea: “Thank you, USA.” In another post, party friend of former European Council President Donald Tusk explained that Nord Stream 1 and 2 have always served as a blackmail tool for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite the current situation, there are no bottlenecks in the pipeline infrastructure to Western Europe, according to Sikorski.
“Russian smear campaign”
The incumbent Polish foreign minister reacted with horror to his predecessor’s accusations, identifying a “smear campaign” against Poland, the US and Ukraine. “It endangers Poland’s security. What a gross irresponsibility!” Stanislaw Zaryn tweeted Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry gratefully entered the debate and cannibalized Sikorski’s tweet as “confirmation” for the “terrorist attack”.
The EU has not yet called anyone responsible, but is already threatening countermeasures. “All available information indicates that these leaks are the result of a deliberate act,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on behalf of the 27 member states. Any intentional disruption to Europe’s energy infrastructure will be met with a “robust response”.
Germany: ‘Only state actor is eligible’
A total of three leaks were discovered in one of the pipes of Nord Stream 2 and in both pipes of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after an initial pressure drop Monday night. Tuesday it was already in Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia, an attack on Europe’s gas infrastructure was thought to have caused the unprecedented damage to both pipelines. From the point of view of German security circles, there was much to be said for sabotage. If it were an attack, only a state actor would be involved in the effort, it said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
