As energy expenses rise and put pressure on EU economies, industry leaders are reportedly pushing for the resumption of Russian gas imports if the Ukraine conflict is resolved peacefully.
According to Bloomberg, prominent German industry figures are hoping to see Russian gas supplies return to Europe following a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Representatives from the chemical and manufacturing sectors contend that Germany’s economic recovery hinges on access to affordable energy, the agency reported on Friday.
European gas prices spiked after the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Pipeline gas imports from Russia largely stopped due to sanctions and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. Despite this, EU countries have continued to purchase record amounts of Russian LNG, with costs nearly quadrupling in three years, according to Eurostat.
Christian Gunther, managing director of the Leuna chemical park, stressed that reinstating Russian gas supplies would be a sensible move if peace is achieved. “We must ensure the damage caused by this conflict is repaired,” he told Bloomberg, adding that resuming deliveries “would be the logical consequence.”
In 2021, Russian pipeline gas accounted for 32% of the total demand of the EU and UK, while Germany relied on Russia for 55% of its consumption, according to the European Council and Statista. Since cutting ties with Russian energy, the EU has increasingly relied on more expensive LNG imports, primarily from the US. This shift has pushed natural gas prices in Europe to a two-year high, leading to discussions in Brussels regarding price caps. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has cautioned that escalating energy costs could severely damage the EU economy.
The EU’s latest sanctions package, implemented on Monday, strengthens restrictions on Russian energy but does not prohibit LNG imports. Gunther previously criticized Germany’s energy policy, highlighting the contradiction of banning Russian pipeline gas while continuing to import LNG.
Bloomberg reported that Sven Schulze, the economy minister of German’s Saxony-Anhalt state, believes permanently excluding Russian gas “would be a mistake.”
US President Donald Trump has been urging Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of American support. On Friday, during a heated meeting at the Oval Office, Trump reportedly told Zelensky to leave the White House and return when he was ready to pursue peace.
Ukraine’s decision not to extend its gas transit agreement with Russia’s Gazprom beyond 2024 further restricts EU access to Russian pipeline gas. The only remaining supply passes through the TurkStream pipeline via Türkiye and Greece.
“We need peace to reopen pipelines, ensure supply security, and lower prices,” said Manuela Grieger, former chair of the workers union InfraLeuna, told Bloomberg. The EU has committed to phasing out Russian energy by 2027. Germany’s Economy Ministry maintains that achieving independence from Russian gas remains a key priority for the country.