Putin Offers Natural Gas To Europe Via Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country could supply natural gas to Europe through a part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is still operational, according to Reuters.

Underwater portions of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines began leaking on Sept. 27 which shut down the pipelines in four separate locations. Putin stated on Tuesday that Russia could supply energy-starved European countries with more gas through the one undamaged portion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; however, he said that it was up to the European Union (EU) to decide whether to accept his offer, Reuters reported.

Germany and the EU suspended Nord Stream 2’s certification in February after Russia invaded Ukraine. The EU is becoming more desperate for fuel supplies ahead of winter after Russia’s Druzhba pipeline began leaking on Wednesday, reducing Germany’s oil imports, according to Reuters.

Russia has continuously cut off natural gas deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and has blamed EU sanctionsfor its inability to provide Europe with more gas.

The EU and the U.S. are also planning to put a price cap on Russian crude oil to lower energy costs and target Russia’s oil revenues which are funding its invasion of Ukraine. Putin said that Russia would no longer sell its fuel products to countries that impose a price cap, according to Barron’s.

Russia’s president also blamed the EU for its energy crisis, claiming that they had neglected investment in the oil and gas industry. The EU is seeking to phase out fossil fuels and switch to using green energy as part of its climate-centric Green Deal; however, the energy crisis has forced nations to burn coal and label natural gas as green energy.

Green energy accounted for 17% of EU energy consumption in 2020 while fossil fuels accounted for 71%, according to Eurostat.

The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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