Brandenburg’s State Premier Dietmar Woidke has indicated that, under significantly altered circumstances, Germany could potentially resume importing energy from Russia in the future.
While acknowledging that the current, ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities and the resulting loss of innocent lives make such a scenario currently unthinkable, Woidke stated in an interview with the Handelsblatt that it isn’t entirely out of the question. The possibility hinges on a fundamental shift in Russia’s behavior.
Specifically, Woidke emphasized that a return to prior energy imports would depend on Russia accepting a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and reverting to a relationship of normalcy and cooperation with its neighbors. He placed responsibility for achieving this on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, stating that he remains steadfast in his commitment to the war, regardless of the cost.
Woidke underscored that a return to “business as usual” is impossible while Putin maintains this position. He stressed the importance of a unified message from NATO states and democratic partners worldwide, demanding an end to the conflict. Any belief that simply engaging in friendly dialogue with Putin will lead to a cessation of hostilities, he asserted, is fundamentally misguided.
