Polish leader urges Nord Stream patrons to ‘keep quiet’ as pipeline mystery returns to spotlight
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Saturday reacted to reports that revived questions about who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022, saying the initiators of the gas pipeline project should “apologize and keep quiet.” That comment came after one of his deputies denied a claim that Warsaw was partly responsible for its damage.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022, a dramatic act of sabotage that cut Germany off from a key source of energy and worsened an energy crisis in Europe.
Germany was a partner with Russia in the pipeline project. Poland has long said its own security interests have been harmed by Nord Stream.
“To all the initiators and patrons of Nord Stream 1 and 2. The only thing you should do today about it is apologise and keep quiet,” Tusk wrote on the social media portal X Saturday.
Tusk appeared to be reacting specifically to a claim by a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, BND, August Hanning, who told the German daily Die Welt that the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines must have had Poland’s support. Hanning said Germany should consider seeking compensation from Poland and Ukraine.
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Hanning, who retired from his spy chief job, did not provide any evidence in support of his claim. Some observers noted that he served under former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who went on to work later for Russian state-owned energy companies, including Nord Stream.
Russia invaded Georgia, then in 2014 Ukraine and took Ukrainian lands. And then, Germany happily makes huge deal with Russia, giving them lots of money and influence. They should remain silent now...
Russia invaded Georgia, then in 2014 Ukraine and took Ukrainian lands. And then, Germany happily makes huge deal with Russia, giving them lots of money and influence. They should remain silent now or apologize, definitely.
They also spun down their remaining nuclear reactors as though their energy consumption wouldn't have to be made up with natural gas and oil. I don't know if they had any plans to push for...
They also spun down their remaining nuclear reactors as though their energy consumption wouldn't have to be made up with natural gas and oil. I don't know if they had any plans to push for reducing consumption, but it clearly became a problem they were forced to address in the 2020s.
No matter how you slice it, this was an attack on vital energy infrastructure which under normal circumstances would be considered an act of war. Whether the deal Germany had was morally correct...
No matter how you slice it, this was an attack on vital energy infrastructure which under normal circumstances would be considered an act of war.
Whether the deal Germany had was morally correct or not, misguided or not, is irrelevant. It cannot legitimise such an attack on an ally.
Can you imagine if sabotage and terrorist attacks were considered fair play in international diplomacy between allies?
Russia invaded Georgia, then in 2014 Ukraine and took Ukrainian lands. And then, Germany happily makes huge deal with Russia, giving them lots of money and influence. They should remain silent now or apologize, definitely.
They also spun down their remaining nuclear reactors as though their energy consumption wouldn't have to be made up with natural gas and oil. I don't know if they had any plans to push for reducing consumption, but it clearly became a problem they were forced to address in the 2020s.
No matter how you slice it, this was an attack on vital energy infrastructure which under normal circumstances would be considered an act of war.
Whether the deal Germany had was morally correct or not, misguided or not, is irrelevant. It cannot legitimise such an attack on an ally.
Can you imagine if sabotage and terrorist attacks were considered fair play in international diplomacy between allies?