Putin laments end of German-Russian friendship
At the swearing-in ceremony for new ambassadors, including FDP politician Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Russia's President Putin once again presents his own view of things. He mourns old gas deals and sees Berlin as being to blame for many things, but not himself.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his regret to the new German ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, over "Germany's turning away from Russian gas", as the Kremlin leader puts it. "For more than half a century, we were able to develop a pragmatic approach to business with Germany, which was pleasant for both our countries and the entire European continent," Putin said at a ceremony to swear in newly appointed foreign ambassadors in Moscow.
"Our country has continuously supplied Germany with ecologically clean gas," said the Russian head of state. This partnership had been "literally blown up" by the explosion on the Nord Stream pipeline, he added. The gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea was damaged at the end of September 2022 by a series of as yet unexplained explosions. In addition to Ukraine as the culprit, Russia is also suspected.
However, the Kremlin had already stopped the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 before the explosions. First, Moscow cited a missing gas turbine following maintenance work in Canada as the reason for cutting back deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Then gas deliveries were stopped completely due to maintenance work and were not resumed due to a suspected oil leak at the Portovaya compressor station.
The EU accused Gazprom of shutting down the pipeline under false pretenses. Russia prefers to burn gas instead of fulfilling contracts. Russia's main aim in stopping the supply was to increase pressure to ease the sanctions imposed by the West in the wake of the Russian war against Ukraine.
Germany is said to be to blame for the ice age
In his speech in the Kremlin, which was broadcast on state television, Putin blamed the German government for a new ice age that was not beneficial for Germany, Russia or the entire European continent. Of course, the Russian president did not see that the trigger for this ice age and a significantly worsened situation in Europe was the war of aggression against Ukraine with tens of thousands of deaths. Instead, the 71-year-old complained that the relationship between Berlin and Moscow had been frozen "not on our initiative".
In addition to Lambsdorff, around two dozen new ambassadors from European countries were sworn in, including Sweden, Great Britain, Slovenia and Greece. Moscow's relations with many of these Western countries have cooled considerably since the Russian offensive in Ukraine and due to the sanctions imposed on Russia.
Putin reportedly hopes for better relations
"Times are not easy," emphasized the Kremlin leader. Addressing the new British ambassador, Putin said he hoped that the situation would change for the better "in the interests of our countries and nations". London is considered one of Ukraine's most important supporters. Western states are calling on Putin to end the war and for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, which the Kremlin rejects.
The Kremlin leader complained to the new ambassador from Sweden about the "complete lack of communication" between Moscow and Stockholm and the restriction of economic cooperation. He also expressed his concern that Sweden had abandoned its "200-year policy of non-participation in military alliances". The Scandinavian country hopes to join NATO in the near future.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the German government's role in the disruption of gas supplies through Nordstream, blaming it for the "literally blown up" partnership between the two countries. Despite this, Putin remains hopeful for improved relations, expressing his desire for a change in the situation in the interests of both nations.
The suspension of gas deliveries through Nordstream, following unexplained explosions at the end of September 2022, was a significant blow to the gas partnership between Russia and Germany. However, it's important to note that the Kremlin had already halted gas flows through Nord Stream 1 earlier due to perceived issues with maintenance and delivery, leading to EU accusations of false pretexts for the shutdown.
Source: www.ntv.de
