Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Moscow was ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Speaking at a Moscow energy forum, Putin said the gas could be supplied through one remaining part of the crucial energy pipeline.
But he added that it was up to countries in Europe to decide if they wanted resume supplies.
“Russia is ready to start such supplies. The ball is in the court of the EU. If they want, they can just open the tap,” said Putin.
Recent unexplained explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and one of the two links of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, causing a massive gas leak and taking them out of service.
Russia has accused the US of being behinds the blasts, a charge rejected by Washington.
Mr Putin said that the attack on the pipelines was launched by those who wanted to weaken Europe by halting the flow of cheap gas from Russia.
“The act of sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 is an act of international terrorism aimed at undermining energy security of the entire continent by blocking supplies of cheap energy,” he said, alleging that the US wants to force Europe to switch to importing more expensive liquefied natural gas.
“Those who want to rupture ties between Russia and the EU are behind the acts of sabotage on the Nord Stream,” he said.
Europe has strongly hinted that Moscow was guilty of causing the explosions. Several European governments said the undersea explosions that hit both Nord Stream pipelines were likely caused by sabotage, but stopped short of assigning blame.
The provision of gas has become increasingly politicised since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ans especially as Europe heads into winter, desperate to wean itself off of Moscow’s energy supplies, and as a cost of living crisis hits the continent.
The offer of supplying gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is unlikely to be agreed to by Western Europe.
Putin has repeatedly taunted the West by raising the prospect of sending gas through Nord Stream 2, a political non-starter for the German government and others.
While Russia is still pumping gas to Europe via Ukraine, the explosions on the Baltic pipelines have exacerbated acute energy shortages faced by Europe before the winter season.
It has never brought natural gas to Europe because Germany prevented the flows from ever starting just before Russia launched military action in Ukraine on February 24.
Before the recent explosions, Russia had cut off the parallel Nord Stream 1 pipeline at the centre of an energy stand-off with Europe. Russia has blamed technical problems for the stoppage, but European leaders called it an attempt to divide them over their support for Ukraine.
Plunging Russian gas supplies have caused prices to soar, driving inflation, pressuring governments to help ease the pain of sky-high energy bills for households and businesses and raising fears of rationing and recession.
Putin said that one of the two links of the Nord Stream 2 has remained pressurised and appears to be ready for service, adding that its capacity stands at 27 billion cubic metres a year. He noted that if checks prove that the pipeline is safe to operate, Russia stands ready to use it to pump gas to Europe.
The Russian leader also said that Russia could increase the capacity of its gas exports to Turkey and eventually turn into a hub for gas supplies to Europe.
