Latest news with #Kretschmer
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Use Nord Stream as leverage in Russia talks, argues German premier
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." 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."
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian ambassador booed at WWII commemoration event in Germany after showing up uninvited
Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechayev has once again appeared at a commemorative event without an invitation – this time, he showed up at a ceremony in the town of Torgau marking the 80th anniversary of the historic handshake between American and Soviet soldiers on the Elbe River on 25 April 1945. Source: German press agency dpa, as reported by European Pravda Details: Surrounded by journalists and local residents, Nechayev said: "We must remember the fallen soldiers, so this day is very important for us." Shortly before the event, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev had called for the Russian ambassador not to be allowed to attend. Asked what he thought about not being welcome, Nechayev responded: "I don't feel that way, I feel comfortable." The ambassador spoke with several attendees. A black-and-orange ribbon, which Russians regard as a symbol of the Second World War, adorned his lapel. Sergei Nechayev. Photo: Russian Embassy in Germany Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the German state of Saxony, addressed Ambassador Nechayev with clear words regarding the war Russia has unleashed against Ukraine. "It was Russia that started the war against Ukraine in violation of international law. Not in [2022], but back in 2014. And only Russia, only Russia must end this war," Kretschmer said, addressing Nechayev, who was booed by the crowd several times. Kretschmer also acknowledged the enormous Soviet losses, but reminded those present that the final victory in the East was not solely Russia's. "Among them [the Soviet army – ed.] were many Russians, but also Ukrainians, Belarusians and Georgians. It would have been nicer, more appropriate, if we had been joined by representatives of Ukraine, Georgia or Belarus," he added. Kretschmer suggested that they may have refused to attend due to the presence of the Russian ambassador. Background: Last week, Nechayev also showed up uninvited at the Seelow Heights Memorial, accompanied by security and his Belarusian counterpart. Meanwhile, controversy erupted in Brandenburg after Nechayev announced plans to attend events marking the end of WWII, despite having his invitation revoked. Axel Drecoll, director of the memorial, stated that if Nechayev dared to appear, he would have to deal with the police. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Daily News Egypt
10-04-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, Saxony explore enhanced education, trade, green energy cooperation
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the German state of Saxony, on Wednesday, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meeting, held in the New Administrative Capital, was attended by senior officials from both sides, including Egyptian Deputy Minister of Higher Education Hossam Osman, and the German ambassador to Egypt. Madbouly congratulated Kretschmer on the CDU/CSU's victory in the February 2025 federal elections and expressed his hope for enhanced economic and trade cooperation with Germany, particularly given the anticipated opening of the Saxony-Egypt University of Applied Sciences and Technology. Madbouly emphasized Egypt's desire to leverage German expertise in higher and vocational education, building on existing collaborations. He also expressed a keen interest in increasing trade with Saxony, encouraging greater German business presence in Egypt, particularly through industrial localization. The Egyptian prime minister highlighted Egypt's economic reform program despite regional and international challenges, noting the country's positive growth rates in recent years and the incentives offered to investors, particularly in economic zones such as the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He also emphasized Egypt's efforts in combating irregular migration while possessing a skilled workforce, suggesting potential for seasonal or permanent employment opportunities in Germany. Kretschmer commended Egypt's role in regional peace and its position as a reliable partner in the Middle East. He highlighted the importance of Egypt's educational reforms, expressing Saxony's interest in cooperating on labour recruitment and vocational training. 'Kretschmer expressed Saxony's interest in cooperating with Egypt in the field of labour recruitment and vocational training, explaining that there are multiple areas of cooperation between the two sides such as the production of green hydrogen, and expressing his hope to receive the Prime Minister in Dresden, Germany,' an official statement from the Egyptian government said. The meeting also addressed Egypt's efforts, in cooperation with regional and international partners, to resume a ceasefire in Gaza and provide support to the Palestinian people, including Egypt's proposed Gaza reconstruction plan, adopted by Arab and Islamic states. Madbouly reiterated Egypt's support for the two-state solution and the realization of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. In closing, Madbouly reaffirmed Germany's role as a key partner for Egypt and expressed his government's eagerness to collaborate on new projects, especially in renewable energy. He accepted an invitation to visit Dresden at the earliest opportunity.
See - Sada Elbalad
08-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Saxony PM Visits Cairo to Boost Skilled Labor, Education Co-op
Nada Mustafa Prime Minister (PM) of Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, is visiting Cairo to strengthen cooperation in the fields of skilled labor and education. Accompanying Kretschmer is Heike Grasemann, State Minister at the Saxon Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism, along with a delegation of professionals from the economic and scientific sectors. During the visit, Kretschmer will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of Saxony Egypt University of Applied Sciences and Technology (SEU), a private institution specializing in hands-on, practice-oriented education. This approach allows students to integrate theoretical knowledge with real-world experience. SEU offers a variety of programs, including Nursing Sciences, Public Health, Logistics, Mechatronics, and Cybersecurity, fields that are in high demand in the German labor market. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Gulf Insider
02-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Top German Politicians Are Calling For Resumption Of Russian Gas
In Europe, the lure of a return to cheap energy is ever-present, and that conversation is becoming easier as the Trump administration in Washington pushes hard for ceasefire negotiations with Moscow. Senior German politicians are already calling for a resumption of ties with Russia. For example Michael Kretschmer, a senior member of Friedrich Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats, is now arguing that EU sanctions on Russia are 'completely out of date' as they increasingly openly contradict 'what the Americans are doing.' Financial Times in a fresh report quoted Kretschmer's words to the German press agency DPA as follows: 'When you realize that you're weakening yourself more than your opponent, then you have to think about whether all of this is right.' The same publication has observed the expected immediate backlash to the statements as follows: Kretschmer, who is also a long-standing opponent of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, is the latest in a string of figures from both Merz's centre-right CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats to have gone public in recent weeks with calls to resume economic or energy ties with Russia. That has created a problem for Merz — who is all but certain to be Germany's next chancellor — as well as for his likely coalition partners in the SPD at a time when he is trying to cast himself as a strong partner for Ukraine and for Europe. Germany's Green party, which is strongly pro-Kyiv, called on Sunday for Merz to clamp down on 'friends of Putin' in his party. But Merz hasn't himself actively tried to silence this growing desire in some political circles for rapprochement with Russia. But Bloomberg reported Monday, 'The co-head of Germany's Social Democrats party and frontrunner to become the next finance minister Lars Klingbeil dismissed swirling speculation over reviving pipeline gas deliveries from Russia after a potential peace deal for Ukraine.' And as we highlighted, TotalEnergies' chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said last week: 'I would not be surprised if two out of the four (came) back to stream, not four out of the four,' Patrick Pouyanne said at an industry event in Germany's capital city, Berlin, as carried by Reuters. 'There is no way to be competitive against Russian gas with LNG coming from wherever it is,' the executive added. Meanwhile, both Hungary and Slovakia not only continue bypassing Ukraine for imports of Russian gas – after Ukraine broke from the transit of Russian gas on January 1st – but are actually boosting these supplies. Click here to read more…
