Kevin Kühnert: Permanent pipeline failure hurts us more than Putin
Created: 07/19/2022, 10:38 am
By: Moritz Serif
Kevin Kühnert warns of a permanent pipeline failure in Germany.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
SPD General Secretary Kühnert shows understanding for the criticism from Ukraine.
However, the gas supply is no small matter, as many had hoped.
Berlin – The question of the question remains: will Russia supply gas to Germany again once the maintenance of Nord Stream 1 is completed?
Kevin Kühnert, Secretary General of the SPD, told
Deutschlandfunk
that a permanent failure would hit the Federal Republic much harder than President Vladimir Putin.
However, the federal government has done everything possible so that there is "no longer any technical argument for the Russian side" not to put Nord Stream back on the grid.
However, Kühnert would not put his hand in the fire for Russia supplying gas again.
Energy crisis: Kühnert shows understanding for Ukraine
The SPD politician shows understanding for criticism from Ukraine – sanctions should hit Russia harder than Germany.
The gas supply is no small matter, as many people had hoped in March or April.
"In this respect, we simply have to admit here: This measure, shutting down this Nord Stream 1 pipeline, would hit us harder than Putin - and very clearly," said Kevin Kühnert.
Vladimir Putin has the upper hand in the energy crisis.
(Archive photo) © Mikhail Klimentyev/picture alliance/dpa
It is a "sad truth" that Germany is currently still dependent on Russian gas to avert massive problems for households and industry in winter.
However, when it comes to prioritization, “there is no fixed shutdown sequence in relation to individual consumers or sectors,” Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency, told the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
.
Not only Russian gas is a problem in the energy crisis
It is important to find the fastest possible solution in the respective situation with the least possible damage.
"Life is then no longer happy and relaxed, and I am therefore sure that such interventions would be understood," said Müller.
But not only Russian gas is a problem - Germany is also very dependent on raw materials from China.
The Middle Kingdom is the largest producer and consumer of raw materials in the world.
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"Every change in China that is relevant to raw materials, such as fluctuations in demand due to the economy, influences the global raw materials markets and price developments," says Yun Schüler-Zhou, China expert at the German Raw Materials Agency.
Price fluctuations would have a major impact on German industry.
(mse/dpa)