Sanctions disrupting supplies of Russian gas: Kremlin

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All of the technical difficulties associated with the disruption of supplies of Russian gas are the result of western sanctions and restrictions, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"It is these restrictions that do not allow the repair of equipment, including turbines that operate at compression stations. And it is these restrictions that lead to the fact that some units cannot currently receive the necessary service," he told reporters.

These technological issues do not allow an increase in the volume of gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the Spokesperson stressed.

Canada on Sunday shipped to Germany the repaired Nord Stream turbine that has been stranded in Montreal for over a week due to sanctions imposed on Russia, the Russian Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The fixed turbine should arrive in Russia by July 24.

Last Sunday, Canadian Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the Nord Stream 1 turbines sent to Canada for maintenance would be returned to Germany instead of Russia due to the anti-Moscow sanctions.

Under the current circumstances, Gazprom said it would be impossible to draw an objective conclusion about any further development of the situation regarding ensuring the safe operation of the Portovaya compressor station, "which is a critical facility for the Nord Stream gas pipeline."

Moscow had repeatedly warned that further maintenance delays could result in a complete shutdown of gas flows via the pipeline network.

Peskov also said it was impossible to talk about any pressure and blackmail from Russia in the gas sector, for Gazprom is always fulfilling its obligations, noting that there have been various reproaches from Western politicians who are accusing Moscow of using the gas situation for blackmail, political pressure, and several other interests.

"In his statements made in Tehran, [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin very comprehensively explained that one cannot talk about any pressure or blackmail," he told the press briefing.

Peskov then went on to stress the importance of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, agreeing with the US State Department.

"We are no longer surprised by what Washington is saying. We have ceased to be surprised. As for the energy security factor, yes, we agree, we actually constantly say that Russia, as a supplier of energy resources, is a very important and integral factor for European energy security. This is true," he said.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was important for Europe to replenish its gas reserves and was a viable option at the moment. Price noted that his country was counting on the resumption of Nord Stream and saw it as a guarantor of Europe's energy security.

In a similar vein, the Kremlin Press Secretary explained that sanctions never really helped sway any country away from its stance, saying even the tough restrictions never led to a change in the positions of countries. "This does not happen with our country either."

Peskov's words came as he was commenting on a new batch of sanctions the European Union imposed on Russia.

Peskov hopes new UK PM has balanced rhetoric

The Kremlin hopes that the next British prime minister has balanced rhetoric on UK-Russian ties, Peskov revealed.

"Everything that happens in the UK is their internal affair. Taking into account all the statements made earlier, we, of course, hope that the future prime minister of the United Kingdom will lean towards more measured and balanced rhetoric towards our country," Peskov said.

This comes as Conservative rivals Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are the only runners for the premiership. They will duel in the coming weeks to become the next Conservative party leaders with the Tory party's lawmakers holding the last vote Wednesday.

Former Finance Minister Sunak, running on a centrist platform of fiscal rectitude allied with "green levies" to fight climate change, again headed the field with 137 votes in the fifth and final elimination ballot.

Sunak and Truss now take their case to Conservative party members, who will decide the new leader and prime minister after a series of nationwide hustings in August. The result will be announced on September 5. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he would step down after a slew of resignations hit his government earlier this month in protest of his leadership. He will, however, stay as Prime Minister until a replacement is found.

The leading candidate, Truss, said earlier today that she did not support London's direct military involvement in Ukraine.