The US government supported Canada's decision to export sanctioned pipeline equipment to Germany, arguing that this step would help enhance European energy security.

The US State Department said today, Monday, that Washington supports Canada's decision to return the natural gas turbine to Germany for use in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, according to media outlets.

Observers see that the State Department's announcement today, Monday, gives a diplomatic boost to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose government faced severe criticism from Ukraine and its large communities in Canada for agreeing to reship the equipment stranded in Montreal since new sanctions were imposed last month.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, "We support the Canadian government's decision to return the natural gas turbine to Germany for use in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline."

He said this step "will allow Germany and other European countries to renew their gas reserves, increase their energy security and resilience, and counter Russia's efforts to weaponize energy."

It was mentioned that Canada’s announcement came at the end of this week to allow the export of turbines after a public appeal from German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who told Bloomberg last week that Russia is likely to use the sanctioned turbines as an excuse to shut down Nord Stream and disrupt Germany's efforts to store gas before winter.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described Canada's decision as "dangerous," saying it "will allow Russia to continue using energy as a tool for war against Europe."

Meanwhile, the Canadian Ukrainian Congress accused the Trudeau government of succumbing to "Russian blackmail."

European gas prices have declined on the news, sparking optimism that tensions with Moscow over energy supplies will ease.

 
Russia has launched a new military operation in the Donbas region on the Russian-Ukrainian border, targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure, air defense, and air forces with "precision weapons."

The Ukrainian border guard said that the Ukrainian border was attacked by Russia from Russia, Belarus, and the Crimea Peninsula.

The Ukrainian border guard added that border units, patrols, and checkpoints were attacked using artillery, heavy equipment, and small arms.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced after a National Security Council meeting Russia’s immediate recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics from Ukraine and called on the Russian parliament to ratify the decision.

Donetsk and Luhansk declared their independence on May 12, 2014, after most residents of the two provinces located in the Eastern Donbas basin voted in a referendum in favor of separation from Ukraine.

Russia had amassed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border, raising international concern about the expected invasion.