Russia said Tuesday that it would not resume natural gas flow to the European Union until sanctions are lifted, all but acknowledging that it is intentionally inflicting an energy crisis on Europe as a means of countering Western economic punishment for its invasion of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that the “problems” pumping gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline “came about because of the sanctions Western countries introduced against our country and several companies.”
“There are no other reasons that could have caused this pumping problem,” he said.
But EU leaders and industry officials said that sanctions are not an obstacle to the flow of gas.
“It is important to recall that there is not just one gas pipeline from Russia to Europe,” European Commission energy spokesman Tim McPhie said Monday.
“If there was a technical problem which was impeding supplies via Nord Stream 1, there would be a possibility, if there was willingness, to deliver gas to Europe through other pipelines,” he said. “That’s something we’re not seeing happening.”
Peskov’s remarks come just days after Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom announced it has “indefinitely” cut gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1, citing “equipment issues” at one of its compressor stations. That announcement came hours after the G-7 said Friday that it would implement a planned price cap on Russian oil exports beginning Dec. 5.
Though Russia has long blamed Western sanctions for the reduced pipeline capacity, his remarks are the closest Russia has come yet to saying that the West must roll back its punishing sanctions packages in exchange for the resumption of gas.
Peskov’s remarks are the latest in a long line of confusing, and at times contradictory, statements from Russian officials seeking to redirect blame for the gas cutoff.
Earlier Tuesday, Gazprom deputy CEO Vitaly Markelov blamed German-based Siemens Energy for failing to repair a leaky turbine. Asked by Reuters when Nord Stream 1 would resume its gas deliveries, Markelov said, “You should ask Siemens. They have to repair equipment first.”
Siemens, the same company that helped fast-track the repair and return of a 40-foot turbine at its Montreal facility in July (a massive undertaking that forced Canada to temporarily lift its sanctions and send it by plane to ensure safety), has no role in this maintenance work.
Siemens said last week that it is standing by and ready to assist in any needed repairs. As of Tuesday, though, the Munich-based company said it had not been commissioned by Gazprom to repair (or even inspect) the supposedly “damaged” part.
In addition, it said, the leak described to reporters did not constitute a technical reason to halt gas flow.
“Our assessment is that the finding communicated to us does not represent a technical reason for stopping operation. Such leaks do not normally affect the operation of a turbine and can be sealed on site,” Siemens added.
The first repaired turbine arrived safely in Europe from Montreal two months ago, but Russia has refused to take it — again blaming “sanctions” from the West.
Since then, the massive metal turbine has remained untouched at a Siemens plant in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
Last month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a press conference in front of the massive turbine to rebut Russia’s claims.
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“There are no problems” blocking the part’s return to Russia, he said, “no technical justification whatsoever for the reduction via Nord Stream 1 and the nonfulfilment of gas supply contracts.”
