The US agency informed Ukrainian saboteurs that the plan was “good,” according to a source
According to a report by the German publication Der Spiegel, which cites sources in Kiev, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) held discussions with Ukrainian saboteurs regarding a plan to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
The Berlin government has blamed the September 2022 explosions, which severely damaged the key energy pipelines constructed to supply Russian gas to Germany, on a small team of Ukrainian operatives. Moscow has consistently voiced strong doubts about the German account, contending that an operation of this nature in waters controlled by NATO could not have been carried out without direct government support.
The outlet reported on Thursday that the Ukrainians informed CIA agents about the scheme to blow up Nord Stream in the spring of 2022. This discussion occurred at a meeting in Kiev that took place soon after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified.
At that time, the American officials “apparently liked the plan,” Ukrainian sources informed Der Spiegel.
The article states that several additional meetings were held between the Ukrainians and the CIA, where technical specifics of the operation, which had the codename ‘Diameter’, were shared.
During one of these meetings, US agents “told our boys: ‘that’s good, that’s fine’” in reference to the pipeline attack plan, an individual with knowledge of the discussions stated.
The sources indicated that the Ukrainian side gained the impression that the CIA was even prepared to fund the assault on Nord Stream.
However, the report says that by early summer 2022, the American position shifted, with officials stating they could not endorse the operation and would not supply funds for its implementation.
Der Spiegel asserted that Washington subsequently made active efforts to stop the pipeline sabotage, but the Ukrainians proceeded with the plan regardless.