Marcin Przydacz made the remark in a media interview on Tuesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Earlier in the day, Denmark’s energy agency said there was a leak in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, close to the Danish island of Bornholm on the Baltic Sea, according to news outlets.
Hours later, Sweden’s maritime authorities reported two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, also close to Bornholm, and told ships to avoid the region.
'We can't rule out any provocations'
Speaking after reports of the Nord Stream 2 leak, Przydacz was asked by private broadcaster Polsat News if the incident could be linked to Tuesday’s launch of the Baltic Pipe gas link between Norway and Poland.
The deputy foreign minister replied: “I can’t rule out any scenario. We are in the midst of significant international tensions. Unfortunately our eastern neighbour continues to pursue an aggressive policy.”
Przydacz added: “If this neighbour is capable of aggressive policy of a military nature in Ukraine, then obviously we can’t rule out any provocations, including in parts of Western Europe.”
The deputy foreign minister stressed he was confident that the launch of the Baltic Pipe would proceed “without disturbances” and “gas will begin to be pumped this autumn so that Polish families can be secure.”
Nord Stream 1 and 2
Both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, designed to bring gas from Russia to Germany, have been at the heart of the energy crisis between the Kremlin and Europe.
Russia stopped deliveries through Nord Stream 1 earlier in September, exacerbating the crisis as European countries seek to replace that gas from other sources ahead of the winter.
Meanwhile, Germany cancelled the approval procedure for Nord Stream 2 just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. The pipeline had been completed and filled with gas, but was awaiting certification.
Ukraine and Poland have long opposed the two Nord Stream pipelines as a security threat, designed to bypass Ukraine and give Russia huge power over European gas supplies.
European countries have accused Russia of weaponising energy supplies.
Meanwhile, the pipelines’ operator, the Swiss-based Nord Stream company, majority-owned by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, on Tuesday called the leaks “unprecedented” and said it was investigating the causes.
Tuesday is day 216 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, ft.com, bloomberg.com