en.Wedoany.com Reported - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in St. Petersburg that Russia is ready to resume natural gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline, severely damaged by underwater explosions in 2022, with the decision resting in Berlin's hands and requiring a political choice.

Putin told reporters in St. Petersburg that one of the two lines of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline remains intact and could begin gas deliveries "tomorrow." He said: "I'm not joking—just press the button, and gas will start flowing. But this requires a decision from the (German) government."

Putin stated that the Nord Stream pipeline is subject to U.S. sanctions, and Germany needs to reach an agreement to lift them. He noted that Russia could supply up to 28 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, "...but we simply need our German partners to give a clear answer to Russia's Gazprom: whether they want it or not. Otherwise, we will redirect it to other markets and sell it to other partners." Gazprom is the Russian company responsible for natural gas production and sales.

Putin made these remarks at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, a day after a senior member of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party met with Russian officials and called for the reactivation of the Nord Stream pipeline.

Germany has struggled to overcome the energy shock caused by the pipeline's shutdown. The explosions in September 2022 crippled the pipeline, forcing Berlin to hastily seek alternative supply sources. Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, but Kyiv has repeatedly denied involvement.

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