Nord Stream sabotage investigation will not harm relations with Ukraine, Germany says

The investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline is Germany's highest priority, but its results will not harm relations with Ukraine.

As reported by Ukrinform news agency, Wolfgang Büchner, Deputy Federal Government Spokesperson, noted at a briefing that the investigation into the pipeline explosion is being conducted according to the law and does not burden the relationship between Berlin and Kyiv. 

"Regardless of the results of this investigation, it does not change the fact that Russia is waging an illegal aggressive war against Ukraine… Regardless of the outcome, we (Germany) will continue to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia's illegal war of aggression for as long as necessary, as the chancellor has repeatedly stated," Büchner said.

The government and the Ministry of the Interior declined to comment on the issued arrest warrant for the Ukrainian suspect, directing all questions to the prosecutorial authorities.

On Wednesday, several German media outlets, including ARD, Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), and Die Zeit, reported that at the beginning of June, German Prosecutor General Jens Rommel issued the first arrest warrant for the main suspect in the pipeline explosion – Ukrainian diving instructor Volodymyr.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany has not commented on media reports regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for the Ukrainian citizen in connection with the Nord Stream explosion.

However, German magazine Spiegel reported that the Ukrainian, whom Germany intended to arrest in Poland for involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline explosion, left the Polish territory, likely having been alerted to the impending arrest.