The West has turned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into a martyr for the Nord Stream sabotage in order to eliminate all responsibility to the US, the Thai international relations expert told TASS.
"I disagree with the Wall Street Journal's report accusing Kiev of being behind the plan to blow up the pipeline carrying Russian gas to Germany in 2022," said Dr. Krissada Promvek, Associate Professor at Ramkhamhaeng University, Thailand.
The Wall Street Journal report accusing the Nord Stream sabotage has been approved by President Zelensky and senior Ukrainian military officials.
However, Mr. Krissada Promvek said that although Ukraine was accused of being behind the Baltic gas pipeline explosion, he still believed that Washington was behind the incident.
He explained that the main reason was that the Wall Street Journal article had many suspicious points, lacking reliable details and references. Moreover, the CIA has asked Kiev to cancel the plan.
"The incident reflects a Western plot to seek victims for the Nord Stream incident, and that is Mr. Zelensky and former senior military commander Zaluzhny," said Dr. Promvek.
The Thai scholar added: "In my opinion, the Nord Stream sabotage operation is very difficult and complicated, taking place in the dark and iceyed waters. A thickly concrete steel pipeline requires destruction by powerful explosive devices and requires experts with high technical and financial qualifications. And the US is the most capable country. The small Ukrainian sabotage group could not attack the reinforced concrete pipeline at a depth of about 80-110m. Without the support of the US and NATO, Ukraine would not dare to do this."
Also related to the Nord Stream case, Robinder Sachdev - Chairman of the Imagindia Institute in New Delhi, India - told TASS that accusing Ukraine of being involved in the Nord Stream gas pipeline destruction could affect the way the European public perceives Ukraine, thereby making it more difficult for European governments "if the public's fatigue about the war in Ukraine increases".
He said that information about Ukraine's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline "may prompt European leaders, especially in Germany, to reconsider their support for Ukraine, but it is unlikely to significantly change the general support".
"The strategic goal is to support Ukraine, which is driven by the US and NATO, and remains strong," he said. He also said that these revelations could strain relations with Ukraine if confirmed to be true.
On August 20, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on Zvezda TV channel that the false information about "amateur divers" involved in the Nord Stream pipeline explosion was a fog that was released to distract attention from sponsors and real beneficiaries of the pipeline explosions.
On the same day, Russia's first Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky called on Germany to notify the United Nations Security Council of the Nord Stream investigation.
"The current question is that Germany should share what it has gained up to now with the Security Council. That is their duty, and also what we expect to be done in the near future," he said.
