A fierce political dispute has erupted in Germany over the possible resumption of Russian gas imports via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The initiative came from Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer (CDU), who argued that Germany should consider reopening energy dialogue with Russia and use the pipeline as a “bridge for negotiations.” However, his proposal has sparked sharp criticism, especially from the Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen).
As reported by Der Spiegel, Michael Kellner, a leading member of the Greens and the party’s spokesperson for energy policy, strongly rejected Kretschmer’s stance:
“Kretschmer is fundamentally wrong if he believes we should seek closeness with Russia at a time when Putin is once again intensifying his bombing campaigns.”
Kellner also urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to respond clearly to Kretschmer’s remarks:
“Friedrich Merz must not allow his party deputy to dictate foreign policy. It’s high time he brought clarity and discipline to the ranks of the CDU — especially considering Germany’s role in Europe.”
According to Kellner, any resumption of gas cooperation with Russia would directly contribute to “Putin’s war chest”:
“Following Kretschmer’s logic, we should continue funding Russia’s war effort. No one in their right mind should support that.”
What Did Kretschmer Say?
In an interview with Zeit Online, Kretschmer claimed that the Nord Stream pipelines, despite the sabotage and current political tensions, could serve as “an opening for a conversation with Russia.” He argued that Germany should once again cover at least 20% of its energy needs with gas imports from Russia.
Such a proposal is highly controversial, particularly against the backdrop of the EU and Germany’s energy strategy, which is focused on cutting dependence on Russian fossil fuels and shifting toward renewables and alternative suppliers.
Wagenknecht Supports Kretschmer
Interestingly, Kretschmer received unexpected support from Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the newly formed party Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and a well-known left-wing political figure. In an interview with dpa, Wagenknecht stated:
“Michael Kretschmer is right. We’ve long demanded that Germany talk to Russia about reactivating Nord Stream — it’s in our economic interest.”
She emphasized that affordable energy is essential to overcoming the current crisis and preventing the deindustrialization of the country:
“To stop deindustrialization, we need low-cost energy. Instead of importing expensive liquefied gas from the U.S. — and even from Russia — we should reactivate the pipelines.”
Wagenknecht also urged Kretschmer to launch a formal initiative in the Bundesrat (Germany’s upper house of parliament) and pledged her party’s full support.
Nord Stream: A Symbol of Broken Partnership
The Nord Stream network consists of two pipelines with four lines, running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. Nord Stream 1 operated for more than a decade, supplying Germany with cheap Russian gas. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, over half of Germany’s gas imports came from Russia. These deliveries were halted by Moscow in the summer of that year.
Nord Stream 2 was completed but never became operational due to sanctions and political opposition. In September 2022, three out of four lines were severely damaged in what authorities described as a deliberate act of sabotage. Responsibility for the attack remains unclear.
Since the war began, Germany has been forced to replace Russian gas with liquefied natural gas (LNG) — transported over long distances, primarily from the U.S., at significantly higher costs. Critics argue that this has weakened Germany’s industrial competitiveness and fueled inflation.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Der Spiegel. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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