Russia is insisting on an investigation into the blasts at the Nord Stream 1 and 2 Baltic Sea pipelines after media reports of a possible Ukrainian link.

There must be a “transparent, international and urgent investigation into what is going on now,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Russia has long complained of not being involved with a demand for an investigation into the blasts on its gas pipelines to Germany.

Moscow had always rejected accusations from the West that it had blown up the pipelines itself.

The Washington Post had reported that the U.S. government had learned of a plan by the Ukrainian military from a European intelligence service three months before the explosions in September 2022.

“We do not know to what extent such publications correspond to reality,” Mr Peskov said.

He said it was clear that it was a “messy affair” that needed to be uncovered in detail.

Four leaks from the two pipelines were discovered after the explosions near the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier denied any involvement of his government in the sabotage actions.

He demanded proof of such allegations. “Nothing of the sort has been done by Ukraine. I would never act that way,” Mr Zelensky said.

(dpa/NAN)