Zelensky denies Kyiv's role in Nord Stream pipeline attack amid German probe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly denied any involvement by Kyiv in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. His statement comes after German prosecutors last month accused Ukrainian authorities of ordering the attack, a claim that could strain relations between Ukraine and its key military allies. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine officially participated in no operation related to the pipeline explosions. He asserted that Germany is fully aware that Ukraine was not behind the execution or conception of the operation. The Ukrainian president emphasized his country's cooperation with the ongoing German investigation, expressing a strong desire to avoid any rupture in relations with European partners. "For us, it is very important not to lose our alliance, not to lose the trust of the European countries that have been helping Ukraine since the beginning of this war," Zelensky told reporters. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines suffered four major gas leaks and explosions on September 26, 2022, seven months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Separately, a Ukrainian citizen was arrested in Croatia on suspicion of involvement in the sabotage, reportedly collaborating with another Ukrainian national previously detained in Italy.