BERLIN — A prominent member of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) expressed support on Thursday for the potential easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy as a means to facilitate peace in Ukraine.
Nina Scheer, the SPD’s energy spokesperson, stated, ““The U.S. sanctions [on Nord Stream 2 AG] were unlawful from the start. Lifting them would be in line with international law. In the interest of pursuing diplomatic paths to peace and ending the war of aggression against Ukraine, steps that could potentially support this process should be encouraged.” This reflection comes as the SPD prepares to join a coalition government led by conservative Friedrich Merz.
Commitment to renewable energy
Despite her backing for sanction relief, Scheer firmly reiterated Germany’s commitment to expanding renewable energy. “We must accelerate the transition to renewable energy. This remains true no matter how sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are handled,” she added, emphasizing that the country’s energy strategy must continue to evolve irrespective of the geopolitical tensions.
Concerns over reactivating Nord Stream
Her comments gained traction following a report indicating that Steve Witkoff, an envoy from the Trump administration, has been advocating for the lifting of sanctions on Russian energy infrastructure, including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Witkoff’s discussions with Russian officials have been focused on de-escalating tensions and re-establishing economic relations, while aiming for a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
However, this proposed shift has raised alarms within Germany. Since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country has significantly reduced its dependency on Russian gas. Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action has firmly rejected any notion of reactivating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, stating that it remains unapproved and uncertified for use. A spokesperson noted, “The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is not certified and has not been legally approved. As such, using the pipeline is not even under consideration.”
Additionally, Michael Gahler, the foreign policy spokesperson for the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, voiced strong opposition to the idea of easing sanctions. He expressed concern that such a move could undermine international law and compromise support for Ukraine. “We are deeply concerned that the Trump administration appears willing to abandon international law, betray Ukraine, grant Russia impunity, and do business with Putin,” he remarked. He further assured that any new German government would also reject the reactivation of Nord Stream, emphasizing, “We will not make the same mistake twice.”