German opposition leader calls for compensation from Kyiv for pipeline attacks

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has stated that if the AfD comes to power, it will demand compensation from Ukraine for the damage caused by the sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.

According to foreign media, Weidel maintained that the loss of cheap natural gas has had a negative impact not only on Germany but across Europe, adding that Germany has suffered the most. She questioned how the German government could show, in her view, so little self-respect by failing even to push for a proper investigation into the incident.

Speaking at an AfD election event in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, Weidel said that under an AfD-led government, Berlin would demand compensation. “Let the Ukrainians, [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, simply pay for blowing up our pipeline,” she declared.

She also argued that a country that behaves in this way cannot be regarded as a friend of Germany. Weidel pointed out that Germany has provided Ukraine with more than €70 billion in support.

“We supplied them with weapons. [German Chancellor Friedrich] Merz promised German soldiers. How can anyone be so indifferent to history? And, by the way, sending German tanks against Russia. How can we do that? How can the German government allow such things?” she said.

The report also noted that on January 15, Germany’s Supreme Court said it was highly likely that a former officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhii Kuznetsov, who had been extradited from Italy, was involved in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.

By Tamilla Hasanova