Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to resume gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in light of rising energy prices in Europe, which were partly caused by Russia’s decision to halt supplies to the continent.
Putin indicated that Russia is ready to pump 27 billion cubic meters of gas annually through the pipeline, but the decision rests with Germany, he told experts from about 40 countries, including Germany, at the Valdi International Dialogue Forum in the Russian black sea resort of Sochi on Thursday.
In 2021, Russia delivered 59 billion cubic meters of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Putin condemned once again last year’s bombings that targeted the Nord Stream pipelines extending from Russia to Germany, describing them as “acts of terrorism”.
Explosions were recorded near the Danish island of Bornholm on September 26, 2022, and shortly thereafter, four leaks were discovered in three of the four pipelines.
Nord Stream 1 and 2 extend as a double underwater line for a distance of about 1,200 kilometers from Russia to Germany.
The Nord Stream 1 has provided a significant amount of imported gas to Europe since 2011.
Neither of the two pipelines was actually transporting gas at the time of the attack, amid the energy crisis between the European Union and Russia as a result of the war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Putin accused the United States of being behind the attacks, saying Washington was looking to sell its gas in Europe.
More than a year after the bombings, it’s still unclear who was behind the attacks.
Meanwhile, Putin said, Russian gas continues to be pumped through Ukraine to Europe on a daily basis.
He added that Ukraine continues to receive money from Russia in exchange for this transfer, adding that Russia and Ukraine, rivals in the war launched by Moscow more than 19 months ago, have benefited from the sales, as transit contracts between Moscow and Kiev expire at the end of next year.
