Blinken Says US Supporting Europe after Nord Stream Leaks

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, US, February 1, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo/File Photo
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, US, February 1, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo/File Photo
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Blinken Says US Supporting Europe after Nord Stream Leaks

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, US, February 1, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo/File Photo
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, US, February 1, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo/File Photo

The United States said Tuesday it was ready to help European allies on energy security after leaks were detected on the Nord Stream pipelines and said it was assessing whether sabotage was to blame.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was looking at reports that the leaks were "the result of an attack or some kind of sabotage", AFP said.

"If it is confirmed, that's clearly in no one's interest," Blinken told reporters.

"My understanding is the leaks will not have a significant impact on Europe's energy resilience," Blinken said.

But he added: "What's critical is that we are working day in day out, both on a short term basis and a long term basis, to address energy security for Europe and, for that matter, around the world."

He pointed to US efforts to step up shipments of liquified natural gas since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as US allies, notably Germany, tried to reduce their reliance on Russian energy.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later tweeted that he had spoken to his "counterpart Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe of Denmark about the apparent sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines."

"The US is supporting efforts to investigate and we will continue our work to safeguard Europe’s energy security," he added.

A White House official earlier said that "we stand ready to provide support" to Europeans after the leaks.

Ukraine accused Russia of causing the leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, saying the alleged actions amount to "nothing more than a terrorist attack."

Photographs taken by the Danish military showed large masses of bubbles on the surface of the Baltic Sea, while Sweden's seismological institute reported underwater blasts.



Zelenskiy Spoke with Trump Ahead of Peace Deal Deadline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during a press conference on the first day of the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference, on plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, July 10, 2025. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during a press conference on the first day of the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference, on plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, July 10, 2025. (Reuters)
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Zelenskiy Spoke with Trump Ahead of Peace Deal Deadline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during a press conference on the first day of the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference, on plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, July 10, 2025. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures during a press conference on the first day of the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference, on plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, July 10, 2025. (Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he had had a "productive" conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalization of a US-Ukraine drone deal. 

Trump, who has signaled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until August 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions. 

"President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks. 

Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil, but sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin was unlikely to bow to the ultimatum. 

Zelenskiy said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to "one of the strongest agreements". He had earlier said the deal was worth around $30 billion. 

Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry. 

Zelenskiy said Kyiv's European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme.