Berlin: The leader of Germany's far right Alternative for Germany party has called for a return to closer economic ties with Russia, saying the country should once again import Russian oil and natural gas if her party comes to power. Alice Weidel said Germany's economy had suffered because of the decision to cut energy links with Moscow after the start of the war in Ukraine. She also expressed confidence that her party could one day lead Germany's federal government and said becoming chancellor was now a realistic long term goal.
Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Weidel said Germany had weakened its own economy by moving away from Russian energy supplies. She argued that affordable energy from Russia had been one of the main reasons behind Germany's industrial success for many years. According to her, businesses and households have faced higher costs since Russian gas imports were reduced, making it harder for Europe's largest economy to recover from recent economic challenges.
Weidel's comments come at a time when Germany is continuing to support Ukraine and maintain sanctions against Russia along with its European Union and NATO allies. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government have repeatedly ruled out restoring energy ties with Moscow, saying that Germany cannot return to relying on a country that has used energy as a political tool. The government has instead focused on securing alternative supplies of natural gas and expanding renewable energy production.
Before Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany depended heavily on Russian fossil fuels. Russia supplied a significant share of the country's natural gas and oil, helping German industries benefit from relatively low energy prices. However, the war, sanctions, and the end of most Russian gas deliveries forced Germany to find new suppliers. The country has since increased imports of liquefied natural gas through new terminals and strengthened energy partnerships with countries including Norway, the United States and Qatar.
Weidel believes these changes have placed an unnecessary burden on German manufacturers and ordinary families. She argued that restoring economic cooperation with Russia would help lower energy costs, improve industrial competitiveness and strengthen economic growth. Her position reflects the AfD's long standing criticism of sanctions against Moscow and its opposition to continued military support for Ukraine.
The AfD leader also looked ahead to upcoming state elections in eastern Germany, describing them as an important step in the party's efforts to gain national power. Elections are due later this year in Saxony Anhalt and Mecklenburg Vorpommern, where opinion polls have shown strong support for the AfD. Weidel said success in these states would demonstrate that the party is ready to govern and could eventually challenge for power at the federal level.
She said the AfD aims to win enough public support to lead the German government by the next federal election in 2029 or the one after that. Although the party has steadily increased its popularity in recent years, achieving that goal remains difficult because Germany's mainstream political parties continue to refuse to form coalition governments with the AfD.
The party has gained support by campaigning on stricter immigration policies, stronger border controls, lower energy prices and opposition to several European Union policies. It has also criticised Germany's financial and military assistance to Ukraine, arguing that national interests should take priority over foreign commitments.
Political analysts say dissatisfaction over the economy, inflation and migration has helped increase support for the AfD, particularly in eastern Germany. At the same time, the party remains highly controversial. Parts of the AfD are under observation by Germany's domestic intelligence agency over concerns about suspected extremist activities, an accusation the party strongly denies.
The debate over Germany's future relationship with Russia continues to divide public opinion. While many Germans remain firmly supportive of Ukraine and believe sanctions should stay in place until Russia changes its actions, others have become increasingly concerned about the economic impact of higher energy costs and slower industrial growth.
The coming state elections are expected to provide an important test of whether the AfD can translate its growing popularity into greater political influence. Even if the party performs strongly, its path to governing remains uncertain because of the continued refusal of other major parties to work with it. Still, Weidel's latest remarks underline the AfD's determination to reshape Germany's foreign and energy policies while positioning itself as a serious contender for national leadership in the years ahead.