Agency Report –
Berlin – A senior German conservative leader is in favour using the possible reopening of the Nord Stream gas pipelines as leverage to get Russia to the negotiating table.
“Nord Stream is a possible opening for talks with Russia,” said Michael Kretschmer, the deputy chairman of Germany’s governing Christian Democrats (CDU), in an interview with the Zeit Online outlet released on Sunday.
Kretschmer, who also serves as the premier of the eastern state of Saxony, argued 20% of Germany’s gas needs should be covered with imports from Russia.
Germany used to be highly dependent on Russian gas imports before the war in Ukraine, with energy prices soaring when supplies were cut in the wake of the invasion.
New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has backed the European Commission’s plan to block reactivation of the pipelines as part of a new sanctions package against Russia, intended to pressure Moscow into ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine.
But Kretschmer said he did not find this strategy particularly helpful, noting there were two options to get Russia to agree to talks.
“Either you try to force Russia, as has been the case up to now, or you try a positive approach,” he said, adding he was a clear proponent of the latter.
“As long as we say: We don’t want anything, we don’t want gas supplies, we’re just imposing sanctions, there’s no point [for Russia] in talking to us.”
