Peskov: Russia sees the West’s reluctance to transparently investigate the Nord Stream case

Russia sees a blank wall of the West’s unwillingness to thoroughly and transparently investigate the explosions on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. According to him, Western countries want to make sure that this topic “goes into the sand.”

Today, at a briefing, journalists asked Peskov how the Kremlin assesses the meeting of the UN Security Council on Nord Stream. The Kremlin spokesman said that, on the one hand, it was possible to draw attention to the need for a thorough and transparent investigation into this.

“On the other hand, we see a blank wall of unwillingness to do this on the part of the countries of the collective West, and, on the contrary, we see their desire not to focus too much on this issue and gradually make this topic disappear into the sand. We will continue to work to prevent them from doing this,” Peskov stressed.

Asked if Moscow would seek access to the investigation by Western countries, a Kremlin spokesman said Russia was “limited in its ability” to do so.

“Obviously, we are talking about the territorial waters of other states, which currently categorically deny Russia the right to take part in the investigation or conduct its own investigation in their territorial waters,” the presidential spokesman continued. According to him, Russia regards this as a “very negative manifestation” that does not contribute to the “search for truth” and the identification of those responsible for this incident.

“But, of course, Russia will continue to do everything possible, although, unfortunately, we are limited in our capabilities,” Peskov concluded.

Earlier at the meeting of the UN Security Council, Advisor to the US Permanent Mission to the World Organization Jim Kelly named false allegations of Washington’s involvement in sabotage at Nord Stream. At the same meeting, Thomas Phipps, a member of the British Permanent Mission to the UN, stated that the UK condemns sabotage against Nord Streams.

The incident at Nord Stream occurred on the night of September 26, 2022. Both pipelines were depressurized by an explosion, after which two leaks were discovered that were located in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Sweden, and two more in the Danish EEZ.

Initially, Germany, Sweden and Denmark agreed to conduct a joint investigation, but this idea was later abandoned. In October 2022, Sweden announced the completion of the investigation, stating “increasing suspicions of gross sabotage”, but those responsible for what happened were not named.

February 8 American journalist Seymour Hersh published investigation of the Nord Stream incident, in which he accused the United States and Norway of being involved in the bombing. The White House and the European Commission called this information unreliable.

February 14 to the State Duma made a draft appeal to the UN calling for an international investigation into incidents on gas pipelines. In response to the organization indicated lack of a mandate to conduct an investigation.