Moscow Accuses US of Legitimizing Terrorism
A Russian envoy has stated that Washington's lack of response to reports of Kiev's attack on Nord Stream constitutes a “legitimization of terrorism.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has claimed that the US is attempting to deflect responsibility for the explosion of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines onto Ukraine. He accused Washington of remaining silent on reports of Ukraine's involvement in the sabotage.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated on Thursday that he is “not going to comment” on a Wall Street Journal article that alleges Ukrainian involvement in the Nord Stream attack.
In a Telegram post on Friday, Antonov characterized Washington's hesitation to address the situation as "indicative" and a form of "latent legitimization of terrorism, even when it comes to the territory of their own allies." He further asserted that the US is essentially providing a "blank check" for similar future crimes.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the 2022 attack, which damaged the critical energy infrastructure designed to transport Russian gas to Germany and Western Europe, was orchestrated by a group of Ukrainian military leaders and businessmen. Sources cited by the outlet indicated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had initially authorized the operation but later attempted to cancel it due to pressure from the CIA. However, Valery Zaluzhny, the country’s then-commander-in-chief, informed Zelensky that it was too late, as the sabotage group had already been deployed, and communication with them was impossible.
Antonov suggested that by remaining silent, President Joe Biden's administration aims to adopt the role of an impartial observer and is attempting to obscure prior statements made by US leadership regarding the necessity of eliminating the pipelines. He recalled that in February 2022, Biden explicitly stated that if Russia launched military action against Ukraine, “there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.”
Furthermore, Antonov accused US officials of attempting to shift the blame for the destruction of Nord Stream onto their "Ukrainian puppets," despite knowing that Kiev would not take any action without approval from Washington.
He added that Russia remains committed to identifying and holding accountable the "true culprits" behind the Nord Stream explosions and ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have previously implicated Washington in the sabotage, arguing that the US was the primary beneficiary of the disruption to Russian energy supplies to the EU, which forced the bloc to depend on more costly liquefied natural gas from the US.
Additionally, in early 2023, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh reported that US Navy divers had planted explosives on the Nord Stream pipelines during a NATO exercise, and that the explosives were later detonated under Biden’s orders. The White House dismissed Hersh's claims as “utterly false and complete fiction.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated on Thursday that he is “not going to comment” on a Wall Street Journal article that alleges Ukrainian involvement in the Nord Stream attack.
In a Telegram post on Friday, Antonov characterized Washington's hesitation to address the situation as "indicative" and a form of "latent legitimization of terrorism, even when it comes to the territory of their own allies." He further asserted that the US is essentially providing a "blank check" for similar future crimes.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the 2022 attack, which damaged the critical energy infrastructure designed to transport Russian gas to Germany and Western Europe, was orchestrated by a group of Ukrainian military leaders and businessmen. Sources cited by the outlet indicated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had initially authorized the operation but later attempted to cancel it due to pressure from the CIA. However, Valery Zaluzhny, the country’s then-commander-in-chief, informed Zelensky that it was too late, as the sabotage group had already been deployed, and communication with them was impossible.
Antonov suggested that by remaining silent, President Joe Biden's administration aims to adopt the role of an impartial observer and is attempting to obscure prior statements made by US leadership regarding the necessity of eliminating the pipelines. He recalled that in February 2022, Biden explicitly stated that if Russia launched military action against Ukraine, “there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.”
Furthermore, Antonov accused US officials of attempting to shift the blame for the destruction of Nord Stream onto their "Ukrainian puppets," despite knowing that Kiev would not take any action without approval from Washington.
He added that Russia remains committed to identifying and holding accountable the "true culprits" behind the Nord Stream explosions and ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have previously implicated Washington in the sabotage, arguing that the US was the primary beneficiary of the disruption to Russian energy supplies to the EU, which forced the bloc to depend on more costly liquefied natural gas from the US.
Additionally, in early 2023, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh reported that US Navy divers had planted explosives on the Nord Stream pipelines during a NATO exercise, and that the explosives were later detonated under Biden’s orders. The White House dismissed Hersh's claims as “utterly false and complete fiction.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
