The European Union on Wednesday threatened retaliation for any further attack on Europe’s energy facilities following the incidents on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The pipes suffered a significant pressure drop on Monday and began leaking gas into the sea.
While the incidents don’t affect Europe’s gas supply because the pipelines aren’t currently in use, they have raised fears about the safety of the continent’s energy systems as governments are racing to shore up their gas supplies for the winter.
European authorities are investigating gas leaks on the two Nord Stream pipelines after pressure dropped suddenly on Monday.
Grids, pipelines, telecommunication cables and other vital infrastructure are normally built to withstand accidents but not deliberate attacks. Securing them would add to the financial and logistical burden Europe faces as it seeks to shield itself from its aggressive neighbor.
The Nord Stream incidents, which disrupted shipping and raised environmental concerns, add to a combustible situation in European geopolitics and energy markets.
The U.S. and several European governments have pledged to get to the bottom of it. Some officials and analysts have pointed the finger at Russia. The Kremlin on Wednesday called the allegations that it was responsible “predictable and predictably stupid.” It has said it was concerned about the incidents and called for a thorough investigation.
Later Wednesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it would call a United Nations Security Council meeting in connection with what it called “provocations” regarding the two pipelines.
The EU is already drawing up new sanctions to impose on Russia after President
escalated his war on Ukraine last week by mobilizing hundreds of thousands of troops and threatening…
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