Washington Post: No Conclusive Evidence Russia Is Behind Nord Stream Attack

No conclusive evidence Russia is behind Nord Stream attack  

Washington Post: No conclusive evidence Russia is behind Nord Stream attack 

After explosions in late September severely damaged undersea pipelines built to carry natural gas from Russia to Europe, world leaders quickly blamed Moscow for a brazen and dangerous act of sabotage. With winter approaching, it appeared the Kremlin intended to strangle the flow of energy to millions across the continent, an act of “blackmail,” some leaders said, designed to threaten countries into withdrawing their financial and military support for Ukraine. 

But now, after months of investigation, numerous officials privately say that Russia may not be to blame after all for the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. 

 “There is no evidence at this point that Russia was behind the sabotage,” said one European official, echoing the assessment of 23 diplomatic and intelligence officials in nine countries interviewed in recent weeks.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Russian media is playing up this Washington Post story .... No evidence Russia is behind Nord Stream blasts – WaPo (RT). More here .... No evidence of Russia behind Nord Stream attack — newspaper (TASS). 

As to what is my take.

Russia's Gazprom spent 10 years and $23 billion dollars to build these pipelines with the expectation that almost $1 trillion will be earned over the course of the lifetime of these pipelines. So yes. I will admit that I have trouble understanding the logic from those who say that Russia is the one who is responsible for blowing up their own gas pipelines. I mean .... they could have simply closed the taps.

President Biden Says He Will Cancel The $11bn Nord Stream 2 If Russia Invades Ukraine

 

Daily Mail: Biden sparks gas panic: Joe warns he will pull the plug on $11bn Russian gas pipeline into Germany Nord Stream 2 if Putin invades Ukraine - as he 'kicks out' 27 Russian diplomats from DC 

* 'I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' State Dept. spox Ned Price told NPR 

* This morning, Germany backed the threat of sanctions on the gas pipeline in the event of an invasion 

* The State Department asked 24 Russian diplomats to depart Washington and return home on Tuesday, according to the Russian Embassy 

* Embassy tweeted that State Dept request meant 'our colleagues were forced to leave earlier than their tenure' 

* The US is reportedly discussing the deployment of additional troops to countries like Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania but not every NATO member is on board 

* Russia warns of 'retaliatory measures' if US rejects security demands and continues 'aggressive' policies 

* 'If the West continues its aggressive course, Moscow will take the necessary retaliatory measures,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday 

* US yesterday delivered letter to Kremlin saying there would be no concessions over Russian demands for Ukraine and NATO 

* Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said however response contains 'serious' offers for a diplomatic path to de-escalate soaring tensions 

Joe Biden's administration has issued a dramatic warning to Vladimir Putin that if he invades Ukraine the key $11bn Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline into Germany will be cancelled. 

The Biden administration yesterday warned the Kremlin that it would halt the pipeline using sanctions if there was military action taken against Ukraine. 

 'I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters.

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: All my friends and readers in Germany are telling me the same thing for the past few weeks. They may not be happy if Russia invades Ukraine, but they are not happy that the White House is speaking for them and telling them what to do. 

In the meantime the Kremlin is confident that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be operational this year .... Medvedev ‘100% sure’ Nord Stream 2 will be put into operation (TASS). 

President Biden Says He Will Pull The Plug On Th e $11bn Nord Stream 2 If Russia Invades Ukraine  

US: Nord Stream 2 will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine -- DW  

Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not open if Russia invades Ukraine, says US -- The Guardian  

Ukraine crisis: Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be axed, US warns -- BBC  

State Dept. Vows To End Nord Stream 2 In Case Of Ukraine Invasion -- OilPrice.com  

US: Nord Stream 2 will ‘not move forward’ if Russia invades Ukraine -- NYPost  

U.S: Nord Stream 2 "will not move forward" if Russia invades Ukraine -- Axios

Will The U.S. Senate Vote To Impose Sanctions On Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline?

Axios: Vote on Nord Stream 2 sanctions puts Democrats in a bind 

The Ukrainian government is publicly urging senators to vote for Sen. Ted Cruz's bill sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline — calling the project "no less an existential threat to our security" than the Russian troops on its border.  

Why it matters: With U.S. officials in Europe for talks with Russia this week, Democrats face an uncomfortable choice — either buck President Biden or vote against sanctions on a pipeline they have long publicly opposed. The decision comes at a moment of crisis for Ukraine.  

The big picture: Nord Stream 2, which is fully built but still awaiting regulatory approval, would bypass Ukrainian transit infrastructure and deliver Russian natural gas directly to Germany.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Democrats have always voted overwhelming in the past to impose sanctions on Russia. 

Will the Biden administration be successful in convincing fellow Democrats to not support these sanctions? 

We will know the answer later this week. 

 More News On This Week's US Senate Vote To Impose Nord Stream II Sanctions  

Senate plans Nord Stream 2 sanctions vote this week -- E&E Daily  

Democrats scramble to sink Cruz's plan to impose sanctions over Nord Stream pipeline -- CNN 

Biden administration hits the Hill to lobby Dems against GOP-backed Russia sanctions -- Politico  

Democrats, Cruz set for showdown over Russian pipeline -- The Hill  

Ukraine Pushes US Senators to Vote for Sanctions on German-Russian Pipeline -- Antiwar.com  

Ukrainian President Urges US Senators to Pass Bill on Nord Stream 2 Sanctions -- Sputnik

US Announces New Nord Stream 2 Sanctions

Nord Stream 2 will carry 55 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea once launched. Nord Stream 2  

RFE: U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Russian-Linked Transadria Over Nord Stream 2 Project 

The United States has announced further sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, citing Russian-linked Transadria Ltd. and its Marlin vessel. 

A November 22 statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the action "is in line with the United States' continuing opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the U.S. government's continued compliance with the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of 2019 (PEESA)." 

"With today's action, the administration has now sanctioned eight persons and identified 17 of their vessels as blocked property pursuant to PEESA in connection with Nord Stream 2." 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: These new sanctions are resulting in even higher prices for European consumers .... European Gas Prices Jump As US Announces Nord Stream 2 Sanctions (Zero Hedge). More here .... Europe Gas Prices Gain as US Sanctions Pressure Russia (Bloomberg). 

More News On The US Announcing New Nord Stream 2 Sanctions 

U.S. Slaps Sanctions on Another Nord Stream 2 Firm -- AFP  

US announces new Nord Stream 2 sanctions on Russian-linked entity and a vessel -- CNN

U.S. imposes further sanctions in connection with Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline -- Reuters  

Nord Stream 2: US announces more sanctions over pipeline -- DW  

US may sanction two vessels, one entity involved in Nord Stream 2 project — top diplomat -- TASS  

US Imposes Sanctions on Two Vessels, One Entity as Targets Over Nord Stream 2 -- Sputnik