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Gas receiving station in Lubmin
Photo:
Markus Schreiber / AP
According to the Danish government, an inspection of the leaks on the Baltic Sea pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 will probably only be possible in one to two weeks.
Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov on Wednesday cited the current pressure in the lines and the amount of leaking gas as obstacles to the inspection.
It is realistic to assume that it "can easily take one to two weeks" for the situation at the leaks to have eased to that extent.
The leadership in Moscow on Wednesday called it "stupid and absurd" to blame Russia for the leaks.
It was "fairly foreseeable" that such accusations would come against Moscow, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The Ukrainian government had described the leaks as the result of a "terrorist attack" carried out by Russia.
Russia has no interest in the pipelines failing and neither does Europe, Peskov said.
He cannot say when the tubes will be repaired.
At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman referred to the large profits that US companies were making with gas deliveries to Europe.
Since Monday, gas has been leaking from the pipelines leading from Russia to Germany at three points in Danish and Swedish territorial waters near the Danish island of Bornholm.
The Danish Navy released images showing large-scale formation of bubbles on the sea surface.
EU leaders believe the damage to the Russian gas pipelines was intentional rather than accidental.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that "deliberate disruptions" to European infrastructure would result in a "robust and united response" from the EU.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of an "act of sabotage".
According to Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, the Navy of the Bundeswehr should contribute to clarifying the background to the leaks in the.
"Our navy will contribute its expertise to the investigation," said the SPD politician.
"The alleged act of sabotage on the Baltic Sea pipelines shows us once again that we are dependent on critical infrastructure - including under water." Lambrecht spoke of a "disturbing event" whose circumstances "now have to be clarified quickly and those responsible identified". .
She had exchanged views with her Danish colleague.
as /dpa/Reuters/AFP
