LAVROV: USA WANTS TO BUY EUROPEAN SECTION OF NORD STREAM

MOSCOW, JUNE 24 /SRNA-RIA Novosti/ – The United States wants to purchase the European section of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in order to resell Russian gas at a higher price, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"The US authorities are currently negotiating, or at least that is what has been reported, to acquire the European section of Nord Stream, repair it and take control of it. Nothing other than our gas can be pumped through the pipeline, so we will supply the gas, and they will resell it, but, I believe, with a substantial markup," Lavrov said at the Primakov Readings forum.

According to him, the United States is increasing economic pressure on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil and is attempting to take over their international operations in North Africa, Serbia, Hungary and elsewhere.