Russia criticizes Sweden for Nord Stream’s “sabotage”; warns the West about arms supplies to Ukraine
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday, January 11, questioned Sweden’s lack of response to Russian demands for a “comprehensive and open” investigation into sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in September.
At a press conference, Zakharova criticized the Swedish authorities, declaring that their refusal to request from the Russian prosecutors and the state-owned multinational energy company Gazprom to conduct an independent investigation into the incident has been “confounding”.
Four explosions had caused the leaks in the three links of the Russian-owned Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. The explosions had caused the pressurized methane gas to spill into the Baltic Sea, raising concerns of a potential environmental crisis.
Copenhagen released its preliminary investigation report, which said the explosions were sabotage. “The investigation is very complex and extensive. The ongoing investigation will determine whether any suspects can be identified,” Sweden’s Attorney General Mats Ljungqvist claimed in a statement released in November.
Russia had required permission for its ships to conduct their own investigations of explosions. Nord Stream AG, the operator of the older Nord Stream 1 pipeline, had later revealed that the Norwegian authorities had refused to give the green light to Moscow to assess the site.
“The question is obvious, why is Sweden so stubborn?” asked Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during a January 11 press conference.
“This is no accident…”
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed that Moscow reserves the right to know the details of the probe into the main explosions in the pipeline, noting that Stockholm’s alleged “stubbornness” is supported by neighboring countries. They are a party to withholding the details of the investigation, the Russian official claimed, branding the incident a “terrorist attack”. “All the details must be clarified for us,” Zakharova claimed.
“Why is [Sweden and other European nations] withhold the investigation and not allow Russia to join, the Kremlin’s State Department spokesperson asked. Swedish investigators had previously confirmed in official statements that the explosions at various parts of Nord Stream’s pipelines that transported gas from Moscow to Germany under the Baltic Sea in September were sabotage.
Stockholm prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist released a statement that the Swedish investigators discovered traces of explosives on the foreign objects at the blast sites, which occurred near Sweden and Denmark. Whether it was sabotage or a “terrorist attack” targeting the pipeline will be clarified in light of an investigation involving the Russian authorities, the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. “This is not an accident,” Zakharova further claimed.
Maria Zakharova, at the news conference, also criticized the West for pumping weapons into the conflict in Ukraine, arguing that it “will not stop Russia” from achieving its stated military goals. “The supply of offensive weapons to Ukraine will not prevent our country from achieving its goals during the special military operation,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Zakharova criticized the US and its allies for increasing military aid to Kyiv, saying it only “perpetuates and escalates the conflict”. “The new weapon systems supplied to the Ukrainian army will become a legitimate target for Russia,” Zakharova warned.