In his [extensive dialogue](tookhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79953) with heads of the world’s leading news agencies present for the SPIEF meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed relations with Germany, the war in Ukraine, and the role of the United States in efforts to achieve a negotiated resolution of that war.
Responding to a question by the head of Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) (Germany) Martin Romanczyk, Putin stated: “As you know, the Nord Stream pipelines were blown up, correct? But one string of Nord Stream 2 remains intact and undamaged. Through it, Russian gas could be pumped to the Federal Republic of Germany starting as early as tomorrow. You just need—and I am not joking—simply to press a button, and the gas will start flowing. But that requires a decision by the Government of the Federal Republic… And here we come to the key issue—a political question, a question of sovereignty. Because this system was not only blown up—I consider it an act of state terrorism, and I think you would agree—but even though one line remains intact and operational, it is still subject to US sanctions. If the German government reaches agreement with its partners, the sanctions will be lifted, we will press the button, and gas will start flowing—tomorrow, if necessary.”
Putin drove his point home: “High energy prices are undermining the competitiveness of the German economy and harming the European Union as a whole… With increased capacity, up to 25, and potentially 28 billion cubic meters per year [of gas] could be supplied—starting tomorrow… Otherwise, we will redirect it to other markets and sell it to other partners.”
