EU suspects sabotage likely in leaking Russian gas pipelines, vows ‘united’ response
- Three leaks were discovered on the Nord Stream pipelines that carry gas from Russia to Europe via the Baltic Sea
- The European Union and the governments of Denmark, Germany and Sweden said they suspected acts of sabotage
Any deliberate disruption to the EU’s energy infrastructure would meet a “robust and united response”, its top diplomat was quoted as saying on Wednesday after several states said two Russian gas pipelines to Europe were attacked.
As gas continued to spew into the Baltic Sea, it remained far from clear who might be behind the leaks or any foul play, if proven, on the Nord Stream pipelines that Russia and European partners spent billions of dollars building.
Russia, which slashed gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, has also said sabotage was a possibility and that the leaks undermined the continent’s energy security.
The European Union believes sabotage probably caused the leaks detected on Monday in the Nord Stream pipelines, Josep Borrell was reported as saying by German broadcaster ntv, echoing views aired by Germany, Denmark and Sweden on Tuesday. The EU has not named a potential perpetrator or suggested a reason behind it.
“Any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable and will be met with a robust and united response,” Borrell said, according to ntv.
Denmark’s defence minister, meanwhile, said on Wednesday there was reason to be concerned about the security situation in the Baltic Sea region following a meeting with Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.