The leadership of the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to hold a meeting in the spring with Russian President's advisor Kirill Dmitriev to discuss the possible resumption of Russian gas supplies to Germany. This was reported by Reuters and Deutsche Welle, citing two sources. According to Reuters, the negotiations may involve AfD co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, while Dmitriev, an advisor to Vladimir Putin and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is expected to represent the Russian side. Representatives of AfD and Dmitriev declined to comment on this information. Sources indicate that the meeting could take place as early as next spring. Possible venues for the negotiations include Israel, the UAE, or India. At the same time, Reuters emphasizes that AfD does not have the authority to make decisions regarding the resumption of Russian gas supplies independently. Energy policy falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government of Germany, and other parliamentary parties continue to exclude cooperation with AfD in forming a ruling coalition. Nevertheless, the party consistently advocates for the restoration of energy cooperation with Russia. In an interview published on June 30, Alice Weidel stated that Germany should abandon the boycott of Russian oil and gas, calling cheap energy from Russia one of the foundations of the success of German industry. Before the elections to the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, AfD also promised to seek the lifting of energy sanctions against Russia, normalization of trade relations between the two countries, and the restoration of gas supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline. The issue of Russian gas supplies has once again come to the forefront amid rising energy prices in Europe. However, possible negotiations between AfD representatives and the Russian side do not in themselves signify a change in Germany's energy policy, as relevant decisions are made by the federal government.
