As the self-designated "official" spokesperson for the US I can tell you there was no need for us to destroy the pipelines in question. "Fueling" Russia's economy with Euros would have benefited their war making effort marginally at best. No, we would not deny Eurovision a few bright lights.
I could imagine scenarios where we might consider something like that. Like if Germany refused to join the sanctions or something. They have all been dragging their feet, but they have been making some sacrifices already.
It easy for us to be hyper-critical, but its a hard call to agree to the amount of social and economic pain Germany might have to go through this winter. The US is energy independent now. We'll be warm this winter. A lot of -unemployed- Germans are going to be cold. Yeah, they made some bad choices that got them there, but here is where we are at.
Currently it appears all NATO (except for Hungry) is on board with sanction and willing to take some pain as the price. It's going to be a hard winter.
If anything we would want the pipelines in place. Those were a tantalizing bait for the Russian oligarchs. If they would just "remove" this crazy guy we can get back to normal. Gas comes on, you make money. Everybody happy!"
Destroying the pipelines would waste a great piece of leverage to tempt Putin's ruling elites. Most of them just want to go back making and enjoying their money.
Why would we blow up useful leverage?
