Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has confirmed that its foreign policy spokesman, Markus Frohnmaier, held discussions in Moscow with Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller regarding the possible resumption of Russian gas deliveries to Germany. The AfD continues to advocate for the return of lower-cost Russian energy resources, but any revival of imports depends not just on the party’s efforts, but also faces obstacles due to European Union plans to end Russian gas imports.
The meeting was confirmed by Beatrix von Storch, deputy chair of the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag. She stated that the party’s aim is to expand energy supply options for Germany and reduce prices.
Frohnmaier Met Directly with Gazprom CEO
Markus Frohnmaier visited Moscow, where, according to AfD confirmation, he met personally with Gazprom chief Alexey Miller.
The discussions reportedly focused on the potential restoration of gas supplies from Russia to Germany.
Von Storch said AfD seeks to rebuild trade relations with Russia, arguing that Germany needs the most affordable energy possible and a wide range of supply options.
This move follows the energy platform AfD leadership has long promoted.
Weidel: Buy Energy Where It’s Cheaper
AfD co-chair Alice Weidel has repeatedly criticized Germany’s break from Russian gas as recently as September.
She has said Germany should buy oil and gas from the most cost-effective sources.
According to Weidel, restoring energy ties with Russia could help German industry and lower costs for both households and businesses.
However, Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports a completely opposite direction for Germany’s energy and foreign policies.
As previously reported by Aktualizovane.sk, AfD is gaining significant momentum, while Merz’s CDU is facing rising political pressure.
AfD Achieves Strong Results in Regional Elections
The renewed focus on Russian gas comes shortly after recent state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, AfD received 38.2 percent of the vote and came in first, according to preliminary results.
In Berlin, the party placed third.
These results boost AfD’s political standing at the state level, but do not give the party authority to determine national energy policy or sanctions towards Russia.
Resuming Gas Imports Goes Beyond One Party’s Decision
The prospect of a return to Russian gas is far more complicated than direct talks between AfD and Russian officials.
The European Union has already adopted a gradual plan to phase out Russian gas imports, with new REPowerEU rules set to take effect from February 2026.
The EU has also sharply reduced its dependence on Russian gas, with Russia’s share in European gas imports dropping from about 45 percent before the war in Ukraine to around 12 percent projected in 2025.
Any major restoration of supplies would have to comply with EU legislation, current sanctions, and decisions of the German government.
AfD Focuses on Energy Prices
AfD frequently links its energy policy to the high costs faced by industry and households.
The party claims that halting cheaper Russian gas deliveries has damaged Germany’s competitiveness.
A similar argument is used by Moscow. Following AfD’s victory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Kremlin stated that rising support for the party is partly due to public dissatisfaction with high energy prices.
However, this is a political interpretation by the Russian side and not an independently proven reason for the election results.
Further Talks Possible
According to media reports, more meetings between AfD representatives and Russian officials are in the pipeline.
These negotiations might concern the future restoration of energy ties if there is a broader agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
So far, however, these are not official agreements between the German government and Russia.
AfD remains an opposition party at the federal level and does not have the authority to negotiate energy deals on behalf of Germany.
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The debate over Russian gas has thus returned to the center of German politics. On one side, AfD pushes for cheaper energy and renewed trade with Moscow; on the other, current German and EU policies focus on reducing energy dependence on Russia.
For now, AfD’s talks with Gazprom do not mean the return of Russian gas to Germany. They do, however, highlight that energy policy toward Russia is becoming a central theme in Germany’s ongoing political debate.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
