Latest news with #ZeitOnline
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
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Audi Pauses US Deliveries amid Foreign Car Tariffs
Audi has reportedly told its dealers that it will pause new vehicle deliveries into the United States. The company plans to work through its current inventory, according to German newspaper and Audi does not currently manufacture any of its models inside the United States. Joining the growing list of automakers that are pausing shipments, Audi reportedly notified its dealers that it will not import new vehicles into the United States. This comes after President Trump's 25% foreign automotive tariff went into effect on April 3. Zeit Online, the digital arm of Germany's Die Ziet, says the company has reportedly told its dealers that it plans on working through the current standing inventory in US showrooms. That's roughly 37,000 vehicles from its portfolio, according to reports. It's hard to say what path Audi will take or if these 25% tariffs will last months. However, right now, it seems like the Audi team is hoping the current inventory will outlast the tariff. Audi isn't the only automaker to pause shipments into the United States. Jaguar Land Rover is also putting a pause on deliveries, and it could be that other automakers will take a similar path. We have reached out to Audi for comment. Do you think these tariffs will outlast the current inventory? Please share us your thoughts below.
