Russia has strongly criticised Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk over his comments regarding individuals suspected by German authorities of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tusk’s remarks defending the suspected perpetrators carried a “perilous and destructive” message for the international legal order.
Zakharova argued that public statements by the leader of a major European country appearing to justify an attack on critical energy infrastructure could have serious consequences for security and international relations in Europe.
She warned that Poland’s position on the Nord Stream sabotage could eventually harm Warsaw’s own national interests and security.
According to Zakharova, Tusk’s comments also exposed longstanding political and economic tensions between Poland and Germany, particularly over their competing interests within the European Union and NATO.
The Russian spokeswoman described Warsaw’s appeal to Berlin to abandon criminal proceedings against the suspected Nord Stream attackers as a direct provocation.
Zakharova further claimed that the pipeline sabotage had caused major economic consequences for Germany, which has faced increasing energy costs and pressure on its industrial sector.
She also accused Poland of benefiting economically from the changing European energy landscape, including the re-export of US liquefied natural gas to Ukraine.
Zakharova concluded that the Nord Stream controversy was increasingly becoming a source of political and economic losses for Germany while creating new risks for Poland.
