Germany dismisses Polish, Czech claims about Nord Streams being 'legitimate target'

The German government does not share the Polish and Czech authorities’ position that the Nord Stream pipelines could be a "legitimate target" for Kiev and believes that their blowing up was a crime, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said.

"No," he told reporters when asked whether the German government shares Poland and the Czech Republic’s position that if Ukraine was behind the act of sabotage at these gas pipelines, they were a legitimate target for it.

"The chancellor stated this explicitly during his talks with the Polish and Czech sides, as well as with many other international partners. He has said that he thinks it was a crime and that this crime is to be investigated," he said, adding that the German general prosecutor’s office continues the probe.