Poland warns against restarting Russia gas supplies
4 min readPoland’s President Andrzej Duda has firmly stated that gas supplies from Russia to Western Europe should never be resumed, even if peace is reached between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Duda emphasized that the Nord Stream pipelines, which have been inactive since 2022, should be dismantled. This move, he argued, would prevent countries like Germany from being tempted to revive Russian gas flows to support their struggling economies.
Duda’s statement comes amid growing debate in Europe about whether to restore Russian energy supplies, especially after the damage done to the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. He expressed his hope that European leaders would learn from Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and would resist pressure from businesses to reinstate Russian gas imports. “I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and push through a decision to never restore the pumping of gas through this pipeline,” he said.
The Nord Stream gas pipelines, which were constructed by Russia’s state-run Gazprom, link Russia to northern Germany and were once key sources of energy for Europe. Nord Stream 1 was shut down in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Nord Stream 2 was never activated. Both pipelines were subsequently damaged by explosions that same year. The energy disruptions led to a surge in gas prices across Europe, causing economic strain, particularly in countries heavily dependent on Russian gas.
Some German politicians, including those from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, have suggested that the Nord Stream pipelines should be restarted to alleviate the energy crisis. Germany is set to hold federal elections at the end of February, and the political debate over energy policy is intensifying. However, Duda remains adamant that the pipelines pose significant threats to the security and economic stability of Central and Eastern Europe.
“I believe the Nord Stream pipelines should be dismantled,” Duda insisted, highlighting the risks the pipelines pose not only to Poland but to Ukraine, Slovakia, and other neighboring countries. He described the pipelines as “a threat from the point of view of energy, military, and economic security,” warning that they could lead to Russian dominance over Europe in economic terms.
In addition to his remarks on energy, Duda also addressed the broader geopolitical situation concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine. He stressed that any potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine must include Ukraine as an essential participant. “No peace talks can take place without the participation of Ukraine,” Duda said, drawing from Poland’s own historical experiences. He pointed out that during World War II, Poland was excluded from key negotiations, such as those at the Yalta Conference, which ultimately led to the country falling within the Soviet sphere of influence for nearly half a century.
Duda’s remarks came in response to earlier comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously suggested that he could quickly negotiate a peace deal to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although Trump had initially claimed he could resolve the conflict in 24 hours, he later acknowledged that a settlement might take longer. Duda made it clear that any agreement that allows Russia to retain occupied Ukrainian territories would be a violation of international law. He called for the international community to stand firm in its opposition to Russia’s territorial expansion.
“The international community cannot agree, and it is unacceptable that Russia would take certain territories of Ukraine and keep them by force. This is unacceptable,” Duda asserted. He emphasized that allowing Russia to succeed in this war would set a dangerous precedent and called for global unity in opposing Russian aggression. “We must not let Russia win this war,” he stated.
On the role of the United States, Duda acknowledged the importance of U.S. leadership, particularly under President Trump, in addressing the situation. As the head of NATO’s most powerful member and the world’s largest economy, the U.S. would play a crucial role in supporting Ukraine and countering Russian influence. “President Donald Trump understands the region, and U.S. involvement will be key,” Duda said. “I am waiting peacefully for the first steps which will be taken by Donald Trump.”
Poland’s strong stance on both energy and security reflects its broader concerns about Russian expansionism and the potential impact of European dependence on Russian energy supplies. As the war in Ukraine continues and the European energy crisis persists, Poland’s position will likely remain a key point of discussion among EU leaders.
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