US President Donald Trump stated on May 6 that he knows the identities of those responsible for the sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Trump also dismissed the need for an American investigation into the incident.

The Nord Stream pipelines are major gas pipelines that run under the Baltic Sea, transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany. In September 2022, powerful explosions damaged the pipelines in an act widely seen as sabotage. The incident sparked intense international speculation and investigations, as it disrupted a key energy route during a time of heightened tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Probably, if I asked certain people, I would be able to tell you without spending a lot of money on the investigation. I think many people know who blew it up," Trump said.

Trump’s remarks suggested that conducting a costly probe would be unnecessary, as he claimed to have access to insider knowledge. The Nord Stream pipeline explosion, which occurred in 2022, has remained a point of geopolitical tension, with international investigations yielding limited conclusions. Trump’s statement aligns with past skepticism he expressed about the pipeline projects.

During his first term in office, Trump was critical of Nord Stream 2, targeting it with sanctions, and even going so far as to boast in October that his actions "killed" the project.

During the same press event, Trump rejected allegations of Russian involvement in the pipeline explosions. He recalled that during his first term in office, he opposed the construction of the Nord Stream pipelines, citing strategic and energy security concerns.

Russia calls for political will to restore Nord Stream

On April 25, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev said that restoring the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines is primarily a political decision that depends on both German and US authorities. He noted that several members of the current US administration have business backgrounds and the economic expertise to consider a potential restoration deal.

Nechaev emphasized that resolving the Nord Stream issue would require political will and cooperation, particularly from Washington and Berlin.

2022 Nord Stream explosions

The Nord Stream pipeline explosions occurred on September 26, 2022. Seismologists detected powerful underwater blasts that day near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Investigators later found traces of explosives at the sites, confirming that the incident was an act of sabotage.

Sources familiar with the Nord Stream pipeline investigation confirmed that evidence points to Ukraine, not Russia, as reported by Sputnik back in 2023. German outlets ZDF and Der Spiegel, during that time as well, said technical data suggest individuals linked to Ukraine were in the region before and after the explosions.

In June of 2023, a report by The Washington Post said the CIA knew through a European spy agency, three months before the sabotage attack, that members of a Ukrainian special operations team intended to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline.

Russia has continued to call for an independent international investigation into the bombings. In February 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin told American journalist Tucker Carlson that the CIA was responsible for the attacks.