Saxony's Prime Minister Supports Resource Supplies from Russia After the War 0 17

The Prime Minister of the federal state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, has advocated for a return to energy supplies from Russia after the war in Ukraine.

"Sanctions against Russia should be considered with our own economic interests in mind," he stated in an interview with the Funke media group published on Saturday, November 15. "Our interest should be to resume energy resource supplies from Russia after a ceasefire. Economic relations also strengthen our security."

According to Kretschmer, Europe needs cheap energy and therefore, in the long term, Russia should "once again become a trading partner - but we must not fall back into dependency." He called the slogan "No more Russia" erroneous.

Kretschmer for Cheap Energy in Germany

Emphasizing that the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible, and that Germany is supplying arms to Kyiv and will certainly support the reconstruction of the devastated country, Kretschmer simultaneously expressed the belief that Berlin cannot influence decision-making: "Europe is no longer a player. We have given up our competitive advantage - energy at favorable prices." "Germany's energy policy is leading to deindustrialization," the politician is convinced.

When asked if he feels threatened by Vladimir Putin, Michael Kretschmer responded evasively: "Russia has attacked another country." The politician believes it is correct for Germany to enhance its defense capabilities, but from his perspective, "this will only succeed if we are strong economically." And for this, according to the Saxon Prime Minister, both low energy prices and deregulation are necessary - both in Germany and in the European Union.

Kretschmer's Party Against Returning to Energy from Russia

Previously, Michael Kretschmer has repeatedly spoken in favor of restoring relations with Russia, particularly for negotiations with Moscow regarding the Nord Stream pipelines. Earlier this year, Kretschmer stated that the sanctions regime against Moscow is "completely outdated."

Kretschmer is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which heads the ruling coalition in Germany. In early 2025, several CDU politicians have already expressed support for resuming supplies of Russian energy resources, particularly gas, to Germany. At that time, the authorities in Berlin rejected such plans. According to media reports, the Chancellor of Germany, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, is also opposed.