Germany says Nord Stream attacks could be ‘false flag’ to smear Ukraine | – #Germany #Nord #Stream #attacks #false #flag #smear #Ukraine
STOCKHOLM, March 8 (Reuters) – German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday warned against jumping to conclusions about who was responsible for the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, suggesting the attack could be a “false flag” operation to blame Ukraine.
Pistorius of the New York Times USA with the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, according to a report citing intelligence investigated by officials Russia He spoke after saying that a pro-Ukrainian group might be behind the explosions, which became a flashpoint between
Report of Ukraine while not hinting at any official involvement, as Kiev’s Western allies enter the second year of the war Russia It comes as he calls for increased supplies of high-end weapons to push back his forces.
Russia The “North Stream” pipelines, which deliver energy to Europe, broke off in September of last year and flowed into the Baltic Sea gas Investigations into what causes it to spray the bubbles are ongoing. Although Western countries believe the explosions were deliberate, they have not concluded who was behind them.
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Russia, which has previously blamed the West, used the news on Wednesday to demand a transparent investigation in which it also wants to participate.
A separate report by German broadcaster ARD and newspaper Zeit on Tuesday said German authorities were able to identify the boat used in the sabotage operation. It was reported that a group of five men and one woman, using fake passports, Ukraine rented a yacht from a Polish company owned by his citizens, but the nationality of the perpetrators is unknown.
“We must clearly distinguish that this Ukraine is a group, or of Ukraine did it happen under the instructions or a pro-Ukrainian group (operating) without the knowledge of the government. But I warn you not to jump to conclusions,” Pistorius said at the summit in Stockholm.
Pistorius previously said it was “equally high” that it could be a “false flag operation organized to blame Ukraine”.
Referring to the German federal prosecutor, the ntv channel said that German investigators january They raided a ship suspected in this incident, but there is no reliable information about the perpetrators or the motives.
UKRAINE REDUCES THEIR WORRIES
“The New York Times” writes that there is no evidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or other Ukrainian government officials played any role in the attacks.
At the same summit in Stockholm of Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov He said that the news published in the press was “a little strange” and had “no connection” with the Ukrainian government.
“It’s like a compliment to our special forces,” he joked. “But this is not our activity.”
Reznikov said that he is not worried about the prospect of media reports about the weakening of support for Ukraine. Pistorius called a similar question about Western support “hypothetical”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested that the media reports were a coordinated attempt to distract and USA questioned how officials could accept anything about the attacks without an investigation.
“The minimum that Nord Stream shareholders and the United Nations should demand is an urgent, transparent investigation involving anyone who can shed light,” Peskov said.
USA intelligence investigation suggested that those who carried out the attacks were against Russian President Vladimir Putin, “but did not identify the members of the group, who directed the operation or paid for it,” writes the New York Times.
“Officials reviewing intelligence said they believed the instigators were likely Ukrainian or Russian nationals, or a combination of both. US officials in the event America or Britain they said that their citizens did not participate”, – New York Times news gives
According to ARD and Zeit, investigators found traces of explosives on the yacht taken by the group from the German city of Rostock on September 6. They also said intelligence suggested a pro-Ukrainian group might be behind the attack, but German officials have yet to find any evidence.
Reuters could not independently verify the information.
Russia last month UN submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council, and if this resolution is adopted, UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres will be asked to conduct an independent international investigation into the attack.
Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, Lidia Kelly, Mark Trevelyan, Riham Alkousaa, Kirsti Knolle; Written by Matthias Williams; Edited by Nick Macfie
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-03-08 15:03:43
Source – reuters
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