The Nord Stream gasoline pipeline sabotage final yr disrupted Moscow’s ‘dominance’ plans for Europe, Andrzej Duda has claimed
The sabotage of the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines delivering Russian gasoline to Europe was a great factor, Polish President Andrzej Duda instructed CNN on Wednesday. The destruction of the pipelines freed the continent from Russia’s “dominance” plans, the Polish chief claimed, including that it ended the European nation’s dependence on Russian gasoline.
His phrases got here in mild of some latest media reviews stating that some pro-Ukrainian forces may need been behind the assault on the pipeline, which came about in September 2022. Duda mentioned he couldn’t verify if it was a pro-Ukrainian act or not, however famous that if Nord Stream ceased “to exist,” it could be “useful” for Europe anyway.
Poland was one of many main opponents of the gasoline pipeline mission and even lobbied for it to be dismantled in August 2022, roughly a month earlier than the assault. Duda additionally known as the mission a part of Europe’s appeasement technique in relations with Russia.
Earlier this week, citing US intelligence sources, the New York Instances reported {that a} “pro-Ukrainian group” was behind the September 2022 assault. The outlet then reported that Western intelligence businesses have been properly conscious of the id of the particular person behind the sabotage, however determined to hide this data to keep away from a spat between Berlin and Kiev as a result of the suspect had ties to Ukraine.
The Polish president, who spoke to CNN throughout his go to to the United Arab Emirates, additionally advised handing all Polish MiG-29 fighter jets over to Kiev, however solely as a part of a world coalition supplying Ukraine with plane. “We’re able to ship these planes, and I’m positive that Ukraine could be prepared to make use of them instantly,” he mentioned, with out specifying what number of Soviet-made planes Warsaw nonetheless has in its arsenal.
Duda additionally known as for Ukrainian pilots to be skilled to function the US-made F-16 fighter jets, arguing that Kiev’s Armed Forces wish to be “as much as NATO requirements” anyway. “The coaching of Ukrainian pilots is vital and it’s fairly essential,” he mentioned.
In line with CNN, a minimum of two Ukrainian pilots are at the moment within the US, the place they’ve their expertise examined in flight simulators to see how a lot time they would want to study to fly numerous US-made navy plane.
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