Lavrov Says U.S. Seeking Control Over Russian Gas Flows to Europe

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that the United States was seeking to gain control over Russian gas flows to Europe, including through the Nord Stream pipeline network and transit routes via Ukraine.

Lavrov said Washington was planning to restart the Nord Stream pipeline and acquire it from European stakeholders at low prices in order to later dictate gas prices, according to remarks cited by Egyptian broadcaster Cairo News Channel.

He also accused the United States of attempting to control the transit route carrying Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe in order to manage those flows directly.

The Nord Stream pipelines, which once transported Russian natural gas to Europe via the Baltic Sea, became a focal point of geopolitical tensions following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent damage to the pipelines in 2022.

Russian gas exports to Europe have declined sharply since the conflict began, prompting European countries to diversify energy supplies and increase imports of liquefied natural gas from alternative suppliers, including the United States.