Russia Says Germany Could Seek Nord Stream Damages

Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik has suggested that Germany could eventually seek compensation from Ukraine for damage caused by the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Miroshnik accused Berlin of deliberately dragging out its investigation into the explosions.

“I do not rule out that when dividing up the pie called Ukraine, they might say, ‘And you still owe us for this’”, Miroshnik told Russian state news agency TASS.

He argued that the case was too politically sensitive and involved financial interests too large for German authorities to resolve it quickly. Miroshnik claimed Berlin was allowing the investigation to drag on in the expectation that political circumstances would change and public interest would fade.

“Time heals all wounds, so they are simply dragging it out”, he said.

German prosecutors have meanwhile indicted Ukrainian national Serhii Kuznietsov over the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. Prosecutors allege that Kuznietsov, then an officer in the Ukrainian armed forces, helped plan and coordinate the operation with other military personnel. German investigators believe the plan was developed on behalf of Ukrainian state authorities.

According to the indictment, Kuznietsov also said in a telephone conversation with his wife, recorded while he was detained in Italy, that he had served in the Ukrainian armed forces and worked for the SBU security service at the time of the attack. Ukraine denies that its government or officials ordered or participated in the sabotage.

(tass, est)