Nord Stream 1 pipeline. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, blamed western sanctions for failure to deliver gas, reports Financial Times.
“The problems pumping gas came about because of the sanctions western countries introduced against our country and several companies,” said Peskov. “There are no other reasons that could have caused this pumping problem.”
The euro fell to a 20-year low against the dollar, following the announcment.
Russia is still supplying gas to Europe via pipelines through Ukraine, as well as the South Stream pipeline via Turkey.
Russian officials have made little secret in recent weeks of their hope that the growing energy crisis in Europe will sap the bloc’s support for Ukraine. “Obviously life is getting worse for people, businessmen, and companies in Europe,” Peskov said. “Of course, ordinary people in these countries will have more and more questions for their leaders.”
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev was even more explicit on Sunday after German chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a €65bn aid package to soften the blow of soaring energy bills.
Now deputy chair of Russia’s security council, Medvedev said Germany was “acting as an enemy of Russia” by supporting sanctions against Moscow and supplying Ukraine with weapons. “They have declared hybrid war against Russia,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram. “And this old man acts surprised that the Germans have some little problems with gas.”