The official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, stated that the new European Union rule governing gas supplies from Russia and Belarus cannot damage Russia’s economy and will rebound on those who initiated it. She made the remarks the day after the measure was announced to inform the public.
She described the proposal as another attempt to craft a fraudulent legal scheme that would weaken the competitiveness of Russia’s economy. She insisted that the effort would not succeed.
The new EU document would empower member states to impose national restrictions on natural gas imports from the Russian Federation and Belarus, signaling a shift in energy policy within the bloc.
Earlier, Zakharova mentioned that Denmark declined Russian legal assistance regarding Nord Stream projects, highlighting ongoing tensions around the pipelines.
On September 26, 2022, damage and gas leaks were recorded on three lines of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2. Seismologists reported two explosions along the pipeline corridor. The Russian Federal Security Service opened a case related to an act of international terrorism, and the Swedish Prosecutor’s Office initiated investigations into the events.
American journalist Seymour Hersh published a new article on Substack claiming that U.S. citizens connected to the Nord Stream explosions destroyed certain operational documents. Hersh asserted that some critical information about the incident was not entered into official computer records, suggesting gaps in the available data.
Hersh argued that the motive for damaging the gas pipelines reflected concerns that the Biden administration might lose influence over Germany and other European partners if affordable energy from Russia persisted. He suggested the Nord Stream operation was aimed at keeping Germany aligned with Russia through favorable energy terms, which could affect Washington’s strategic stance in Europe.
Previously, the Ministry of Economic Development speculated about a possible decline in demand for oil and gas from Russia through 2050, reflecting expectations about shifts in energy markets and policy priorities.