What is Russia's position regarding Europe's energy crisis and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline?

Russian President Putin has consistently urged the European Union to lift sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a solution to Europe's energy crisis. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe has accused Russia of weaponizing energy supplies in retaliation for the extensive Western sanctions imposed on Moscow. The conflict has resulted in over 16,500 sanctions being imposed on Russia by countries including the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and Japan. This standoff highlights Russia's strategic use of energy resources as leverage, while Putin maintains that Europe's energy problems could be resolved by allowing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to operate.