Putin voiced displeasure to the new German ambassador Lambsdorff due to Berlin's shift away from Russian gas, attributing the move to the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. The pipeline, which previously provided Germany with eco-friendly gas, had been severely impacted by the blasts in September 2022.
Recently, a fresh batch of ambassadors from countries like Sweden, the UK, Slovenia, and Greece took their posts in Moscow. Their relationships with Russia have cooled due to its military actions in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed as a result. Putin spoke positively about the future between Germany and Russia, expressing hope for improvement "in the interests of our countries and nations," given London's support for Ukraine.
Addressing the Swedish ambassador, Putin expressed concern over the lack of communication between Moscow and Stockholm and the limitations on economic cooperation. He also expressed disappointment that Sweden had renounced its century-old policy of non-involvement in military alliances, aiming to join NATO.
Throughout his interactions, Putin highlighted the importance of the Nord Stream pipeline, which connected Russia and Germany, to collaboration and energy security. Regardless of the pipeline's destruction, Putin believed that it would be challenging for the Russian-German partnership to maintain its long-standing beneficial aspect.
Drawing comparisons between historical relationships and the recent gas dispute, Putin emphasized that he hoped Russia's friendship with Germany would not be affected by the disagreement. However, analysts in Berlin argued that Germany should diversify its energy portfolio and decrease its dependence on Russian gas.
Enrichment Data: - The Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline has been subject to various issues, with Gazprom suspending its deliveries due to maintenance concerns and an alleged leak. However, Western leaders have argued that Russia is using gas as a weapon in its broader strategy toward Ukraine. As a result, Germany has expanded its Russian LNG imports by 500% in 2024, reaching a value of 7.32 billion euros. - The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, intended to boost Russian gas supplies to Germany, was abandoned before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Discussions are ongoing to repurpose it for green hydrogen or natural gas from Finland, which could help alleviate some energy security concerns. - Germany is attempting to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, given the geopolitical risks associated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite recent surges in Russian LNG imports, Europe is slowly moving away from its decades-long dependence on Russian energy.
