Putin offers Europe gas through Nord Stream 2, Germany declines

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday offered to resume gas supplies to Europe through the intact part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“The ball is in the EU’s court. If they want to, then the taps can be turned on and that’s it,” he said in a speech at an energy forum in Moscow.

Germany, however, said it would not take Russian gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that has become a flashpoint in the Ukraine crisis.

Asked if Berlin would rule out the use of Nord Stream 2, German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said, “Yes.”