English Section

Polish ex-FM’s comment on Nord Stream leaks ‘serves Russian propaganda’: gov’t spokesman

28.09.2022 16:15
The spokesman for the Polish government on Wednesday criticised an ex-foreign minister’s tweet about unexplained leaks from the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Europe, saying the remark "serves Russian propaganda.”
Piotr Mller
Piotr MüllerPR24/PO

Piotr Müller made the assessment at a media briefing in parliament, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Müller was referring to a tweet by former top diplomat Radosław Sikorski.

Commenting on three mysterious leaks in the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, Sikorski wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: “Thank you, USA.”

Sikorski attached a photo of the natural-gas leak bubbling up from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to the surface of the Baltic Sea. 

‘Harmful and obviously exploited by Russian propaganda

Asked by reporters for his opinion on Sikorski’s tweet, Müller said: “It’s an example of a policy that is harmful and obviously exploited by Russian propaganda, although I’m not too surprised.”  

The government spokesman added that Sikorski, a former Polish foreign minister, “together with [then Prime Minister] Donald Tusk sought to rebuild the Polish-Russian alliance.”

Müller told reporters that Sikorski’s Twitter comment “serves Russian propaganda.”

'Gross irresponsibility'

Meanwhile, the government’s commissioner for the security of Poland’s information space, Stanisław Żaryn, tweeted on Tuesday: “Russian propaganda instantly launched a smear campaign against Poland, the US and Ukraine, accusing the West of aggression against NS1 and NS2.”

He added: “Authenticating the Russian lies at this particular moment jeopardises the security of Poland. What an act of gross irresponsibility!” 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the Nord Stream leaks “sabotage action.”

She said in a tweet: “Spoke to Danish PM Mette Frederiksen on the sabotage action #Nordstream. Paramount to now investigate the incidents, get full clarity on events & why.”

Von der Leyen added: “Any deliberate disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable & will lead to the strongest possible response.” 

Wednesday is day 217 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, dziennik.plpolitico.eu