Reuters: Moscow, Germany’s AfD prepare talks on restarting Russian gas

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and the leadership of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are preparing for a possible meeting next year to discuss restoring Russian gas supplies to Germany, two people familiar with the plans told Reuters.

The meeting could take place as early as March 2027 and would reportedly involve Dmitriev, who heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, along with AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. The talks would only proceed if Russia and Ukraine first agree on a peace framework. Potential venues include Israel, the United Arab Emirates and India.

Organizers also hope to involve US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and discuss the possible reopening of the Nord Stream pipelines. However, a senior US official told Reuters that neither Witkoff nor Kushner had been informed about or invited to the proposed meeting.

Before sanctions imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia supplied more than half of Germany’s natural gas and over a third of its crude oil imports. Weidel has called for an end to the boycott of Russian energy, describing “cheap energy from Russia” as “the secret of the success of 'Made in Germany'.”

The proposal has drawn criticism from German lawmakers. Green politician Michael Kellner said: “We cannot repeat the mistakes of the energy crisis. It cost us €50 billion. We cannot want to go back to that. It would be treason. Putin is using the AfD to his own ends.”

Christian Democrat lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter said: “The AfD is on Russia's side, willing to betray both the Ukraine and Germany. Russia uses energy, especially Nord Stream, as a hybrid weapon for military purposes. Reopening Nord Stream would be a disaster for European security and isolate Germany.”

The AfD hopes the meeting would demonstrate its foreign-policy credentials and highlight the government’s difficulties in addressing high energy prices.

By Vafa Guliyeva