Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Kremlin economic envoy, publicly offered economic cooperation with Germany's far-right AfD to help restore Nord Stream gas supplies ahead of a pivotal state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The race is tight between the AfD and incumbent SPD leader Manuela Schwesig, after the AfD led polls for months. Moscow says it could resume cheap gas deliveries if Western sanctions are lifted; one Nord Stream strand remains intact but is not operational after 2022 explosions. Russian officials deny election interference.
Putin Envoy Offers To Partner With AfD To Restore Nord Stream Ahead Of Crucial German State Vote
FILE PHOTO - Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin's Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), attends the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin. (is associated with: «Putin envoy offers to work with AfD ahead of key German state vote») -/Kremlin/dpa
A senior Kremlin economic envoy publicly suggested economic cooperation with Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of a closely watched state election on Sunday.
Voters in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will elect a new regional parliament in a tight contest between the AfD and the Social Democrats (SPD) led by incumbent premier Manuela Schwesig. The AfD led opinion polls for months before the SPD closed the gap late in the campaign.
What Dmitriev Said
Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's envoy for international economic cooperation and a top aide to President Vladimir Putin, wrote on X: "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will thrive again when affordable, reliable Nord Stream gas returns through joint work with AfD." He added that the move would mean "lower energy bills, more jobs and higher growth."
Context And Facts
Moscow has repeatedly said it could resume gas deliveries to Germany via the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea if Western sanctions were lifted. Only one of the original four Nord Stream pipeline strands remains physically intact after explosions in 2022 damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2; that remaining strand is not in use.
Dmitriev, who also serves as one of Russia's chief negotiators in talks with the United States over the war in Ukraine, framed the offer as an economic proposal. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel had posted about the need for political change in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; Dmitriev replied with his call for renewed energy cooperation and warned against what he described as "German energy and industrial suicide."
Russian officials deny interfering in foreign elections. German authorities and independent observers have repeatedly warned about potential foreign influence efforts aimed at destabilizing democracies across Europe.
Bottom line: The Kremlin envoy's public outreach to the AfD adds an international dimension to a tight regional vote and highlights the geopolitics tied to Europe's energy supply.
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