Use Nord Stream as leverage in Russia talks, argues German premier
"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."
The Nord Stream project includes two pipelines - Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 - leading from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea.
After supplying Europe with gas for more than 10 years via Nord Stream 1, Moscow halted deliveries following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Nord Stream 2, while completed, was yet to begin operations at that time.
Three of the pipelines' four strands were damaged in September 2022 in what was widely believed to have been an act of sabotage.
Kretschmer said reactivating Nord Stream would also boost the German economy, noting that many companies were leaving the country amid high production costs, with energy prices being a central issue.
"It would greatly improve our situation if we could obtain around 20% of our gas from Russia," the state leader said.
While Kretschmer said he currently doesn't see any willingness to change strategy in Berlin, he was certain that "if economic developments continue as they are, we will be forced to change course in one or two years."
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