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Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer
Photo: IMAGO/Political Moments
The Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) spoke out in favor of a perspective resumption of Russian gas supplies after the war.
He has also questioned the sanctions against Russia and called on the EU to push for a negotiated solution.
»We need long-term contracts for liquid gas supplies from the USA, Qatar and other Arab countries.
In addition, we must finally develop our own natural gas in the North Sea.
And when the war is over, we should use gas from Russia again," said Kretschmer of the "Bild am Sonntag".
When asked whether he assumed that the damaged Nord Stream1 gas pipeline would then be repaired, Kretschmer replied: "We will need pipeline gas and that is only possible with functioning pipelines."
Europe must increase pressure for peace talks
To end the war, Germany should work with other countries to push for a negotiated solution.
A joint diplomatic effort by the EU, the US, China, India and Japan is now needed.
This war must be stopped, said Kretschmer.
According to Kretschmer, these negotiations would not automatically result in Ukraine having to give up parts of its national territory.
»There is not a single reason why Ukraine should give up even one square meter of its territory.
War damage must be compensated by Russia, war criminals must be held accountable.
You have to go into peace talks with this attitude,” says Kretschmer.
These questions should no longer be settled on the battlefield.
Europe must put more pressure on peace talks.
Cost burden and inflation were foreseeable
Kretschmer reiterated his skepticism about EU sanctions against Russia.
“Sanctions are always better than the use of weapons.
But they must also have the necessary effect on the aggressor.
It must be clear to us what effects the sanctions will have on the German economy.
There's a tsunami building."
Kretschmer has been taking a stance on the Ukraine war for weeks that is hardly compatible with the official line of the CDU.
The Prime Minister feels confirmed by the course of the crisis.
"The cost burden and the massive inflation were foreseeable," says Kretschmer.
jpa
