Politis

Russia Accuses US of Seeking Control Over Nord Stream Pipelines

Published March 27, 2026, 09:24
Russia Accuses US of Seeking Control Over Nord Stream Pipelines

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that the United States is seeking to gain control of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. These pipelines suffered significant damage from explosions in September 2022, disrupting the supply of Russian natural gas to Europe and exacerbating the energy crisis. Both Russia and Western countries have labeled the incident as "sabotage," but investigations have not yielded definitive conclusions, although a Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy as a suspect in coordinating the attacks. Lavrov stated in an interview that the US is seeking dominance in global energy markets, citing Venezuela and Iran as examples. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov said that the United States "now states that they want to take control of the Nord Stream pipelines." Furthermore, a recent Wall Street Journal report indicated that American investor Stephen P. Lynch had expressed interest in purchasing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a portion of which remains functionally intact. Lavrov's statement comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the energy challenges facing Europe. These claims fuel conspiracy theories regarding the destruction of the pipelines and the potentially involved parties. The lack of transparency and the absence of definitive conclusions from the investigations contribute to maintaining uncertainty and escalating tensions.