AfD Lawmaker Pushes to Restart Nord Stream in Moscow Talks

Ignoring explicit warnings from the German foreign ministry, AfD politician Markus Frohnmaier held high-level discussions in St. Petersburg this week, including a meeting with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. The talks signal a provocative push to restore Russian energy imports despite the ongoing sanctions regime and diplomatic freeze.

Frohnmaier explicitly campaigned for the reactivation of the Nord Stream pipeline, framing the move as a necessary remedy for Germany’s current economic volatility and soaring energy prices. By courting Moscow’s energy leadership, the AfD seeks to wedge a divide between its populist platform and the current administration led by Chancellor Merz.

While Gazprom acknowledged the dialogue, the meetings occur under the shadow of international condemnation regarding Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Russian special envoy Dmitriev publicly welcomed the outreach, highlighting an alignment of interests that promises to feature prominently in upcoming regional elections. This maneuver challenges the established German consensus on energy security and signals a hardening of the party's foreign policy stance.