Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, charged that the European Union appears to be absorbing the shock of the Nord Stream explosions to avoid triggering discontent in the United States, a claim he attributed to sources within Russia’s reporting channels. This characterization frames Brussels’ response as a controlled, almost submissive posture toward Washington, a dynamic Nebenzya described as historically unusual for Europe.
According to the ambassador, European leaders quietly accepted the blow to the main gas pipeline in Brussels, arguing that the financial and political costs were borne by European investors rather than by any single state aligned with the United States. He framed this as a strategic choice by European actors to shield themselves from angering Washington while maintaining economic stability as best as possible under tense circumstances.
Nebenzya further suggested at the United Nations that European reactions to the incident resembled a broader pattern of accommodation to American energy policy. He described the EU as being entangled with what he called costly energy dependencies and warned that such dependencies create vulnerabilities in the bloc’s economic and strategic calculus. Acknowledging the region’s desire to maintain reliable energy access, he argued that the price has been high and growing over time, with consequences for everyday life in Europe.
In a broader assessment delivered at the Security Council, Nebenzya claimed that the path Europe chose after severing formal ties with Russia included maintaining stable energy flows while managing inflationary pressures that followed the disruption. He underscored that the combination of restricted energy sources and market volatility contributed to a period of slowed economic activity in Europe, with inflation rising to levels that affected consumer prices across the continent. The ambassador used these points to illustrate how geopolitical shocks can ripple through the European economy, affecting households and businesses alike. [TASS]
The remarks situate the Nord Stream incident within a larger debate about energy security, international cooperation, and the balance of power in the European region. Nebenzya’s framing implies that political calculations in Brussels are influenced by the need to maintain alignment with American policy while navigating the economic realities of a continent seeking to diversify energy sources and reduce exposure to external shocks. The discussion reflects ongoing tensions over how Europe should respond to strategic threats, the cost of energy, and the implications for regional growth and stability in the years ahead. [United Nations, Security Council]