Russia has a history of using energy to exert influence and has an interest in fracturing alliances within Europe. But the theory that Russia carried out the blasts, repeated often by Western officials, has only gotten more complicated.
In recent weeks, Nord Stream AG, which is majority-owned by a Kremlin-controlled company, has begun pricing out the cost to repair the pipe and restore gas flow, according to a person briefed on the work who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about it publicly. One repair estimate starts at about $500 million, the person said. Consultants for Russia are also studying how long the damaged pipes can withstand saltwater exposure. The inquiries raise the question of why, if Russia bombed its own pipelines, it would begin the expensive work of repairing them.
But like any good mystery story, the sabotage has layers of intrigue and multiple players with degrees of motive and ability. Even the decision by the Swedish government to keep details of its inquiry secret from Western allies has prompted whispered speculation that perhaps investigators have cracked the case and are strategically keeping quiet.
Not so, Mr. Stenling said. “We have no concrete evidence,” he said. “But hopefully we will.”
[I don’t necessarily see a contradiction. Russia could have blown up the pipes as a warning to the EU, which backfired on them by forcing European nations away from Moscow’s energy exports. The Russians may have realized the need to get the pipes back on line before those new plans reach fruition — and they may be just as interested in cleaning up a crime scene before the Europeans do. — Ed]
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