The German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is not counting on Russia to resume the supply of gas to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
"A little gas is still coming through the pipeline via Ukraine, but a restarting of Nord Stream 1 is not a scenario I am assuming," Habeck told German TV channel ZDF on Monday evening.
The Russian state gas group Gazprom did not reopen Nord Stream 1 on Saturday after a planned maintenance was completed. According to the company, this was due to an oil leak, although that explanation is doubted in the West.
A spokesman for Siemens Energy, which is normally responsible for the maintenance of the pipeline, said on Monday evening that an oil leak is not a reason to keep the pipeline closed. In the past, such leaks would not have interrupted deliveries, the spokesman said.
