Russia claims talks with U.S. on restarting Nord Stream pipelines, hopes to "pressure Europe"

The Russian propaganda outlet TASS reported the information.

Lavrov said that the United States and Russia are currently discussing the Nord Stream pipeline and dreamed of “pressuring” Europe not to refuse Russian gas. 

"Of course, there are differences now. But is the interest in restoring normal energy supply to Europe only the concern of the U.S. and Russia? There is a discussion about the 'Nord Streams.' It will probably be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and force it not to refuse Russian gas. But that's already some kind of surrealism," said the Russian Foreign Minister.

He said that “Europe and businesses are now paying several times more for energy than American businesses.” 

"People like (German Minister of Economy) Robert Habeck, (President of the European Commission) Ursula von der Leyen, (German Minister of Defense) Boris Pistorius, they all say they will never allow the Nord Stream to be restored. These are either sick people or suicides," Lavrov believes.

• Media outlets earlier reported that Putin's German friend Matthias Warnig, who worked in the Stasi secret police, has been lobbying the United States to restart Nord Stream 2.