Overview

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the EU Commission's proposal to ban the reactivation of the Nord Stream pipelines as part of a new sanctions package against Russia.
• Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer advocates for resuming Russian gas imports via Nord Stream, arguing it could alleviate Germany's economic challenges.
• Kretschmer proposes meeting 20% of Germany's gas needs through Russian imports, contrasting sharply with Merz's stance on sanctions.
• The Nord Stream pipelines, damaged in a 2022 sabotage, remain a focal point of debate as Germany navigates high energy costs and industrial pressures.
• Kretschmer predicts that economic pressures may force Germany to reconsider its approach to Russian gas within the next two years.