After the attack on Ukraine, Russia built a network of contacts with Germany, and 1 of the objectives was to reactivate the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The leading function was played by erstwhile head of SPD, Matthias Platzck – writes the German paper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung" ("FAS"), Sunday edition of the diary "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung"
The paper reports that Platzeck visited Moscow at least 9 times since the end of 2022. A fresh visit to the Russian capital took place in March 2025. The Social Democratic SPD organization politician was accompanied respective times by another people, including erstwhile head of the Kanclary Office during Angela Merkel's time, Ronald Pofalla of the CDU. German-Russian talks continued in April in the capital of Azerbaijan-Baku.
The publication "FAS" was created in cooperation with the weekly "Der Spiegel" and the Russian opposition platform "The Insider". The text was published on Friday on the paper portal.
Social politician with contacts in Russia
As Konrad Schuller writes, Platzeck refused "FAS" comment explaining that it was his private life. The 71-year-old Social politician was Prime Minister of Brandenburg from 2002 to 2013, and additionally president of the SPD from 2005 to 2006. In 2014, after his retirement for wellness reasons from political positions, he headed the German-Russian Forum.
Platzeck and Pofalla confirmed their presence at a gathering with representatives of Russian elites in Baku. Mr Bundestag, SPD associate Ralf Stegner, besides participated in the talks. The president of the Gazprom Supervisory Board Wiktor Zubkov and another typical of Sergei Kolin were besides present in the capital of Azerbaijan.
According to "FAS", the presence of advanced representatives of the Russian energy company was not accidental, as Moscow is seeking the reactivation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, hoping for support from the US. "The Magistral is badly damaged due to an unexplained assassination, but its 1 thread is working" says Schuller.
Nord Stream 2: Putin doesn't lose hope
The author recalled that after Russia's attack on Ukraine, the German government did not agree to open the gas pipeline, but president Vladimir Putin believes that if Russia and the US come to an agreement, it would be possible to launch Russian gas supply to Europe. Putin discussed this with US president Donald Trump. After a telephone conversation on 3 July, both politicians declared that they were curious in energy projects – we read in "FAS".
The editorial indicated the function of American businessman Stephen Lynch, who proposed last fall that he would buy Nord Stream 2 from Gazprom and launch the gas pipeline as an American project. According to the FAS, Lynch has good contacts in Russia. According to the services, Russia seeks American investors to normalize relations with the US.
German lobby behind the pipeline
"In the reign of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, supporters of saving Nord Stream could number on knowing in Berlin, primarily in CDU and SPD," Schuller writes. CDU MP Thomas Bareiss, liable for the coalition negotiations with SPD, said that America-controlled Nord Stream 2 could 1 day become "the component of Trump's agreement with Russia". Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer considered the pipeline a chance to start talks with Russia. The Prime Minister of Brandenburg Dietmar Wodke was of akin opinion. Only the Greens opposed a solution that would be detrimental to Ukraine.
"FAS" draws attention to Platzck's many contacts in Russia. 1 of his partners is Alexey Gromyko, head of the European Department at the Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the service, the grandson of the russian MFA chief is the author of secret reports for Putin's presidential office.
Platzeck denied that during his visits to Moscow and Baku he was talking about gas supplies. "If so, what were the advanced Gazprom representatives doing there? Is the subject the final staging of 'The Swan Lake'?", asks ironically Schuller.
Will there be reactivation?
A fewer days after Platzck's last March visit to Moscow, Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lawrow said he was "talking" about Nord Stream 2. Jurov did not admit that Platzeck and another German politicians were active in these talks, but his words and Russian presence in Baku let specified a conclusion.
"Moscow wanted to save Nord Stream 2 (before bankruptcy) to come to an agreement with Trump at the expense of Ukraine" – stressed Schuller in "FAS". To this end, Russia had to get the German state company Uniper. Through Platzck, the Russian side was to keep contact with Berlin – we read.
Schuller stressed in his summary that Russia had achieved its goal: On 15 April, shortly before Scholz's government left, creditors voted against declaring bankruptcy. "Nord Stream 2 survived," writes writer "FAS". The EU has, in its 18th package of sanctions, prohibited the sale of gas pipelines, but sanctions must be renewed all six months. The veto of Hungary and Nord Stream will be available again – we read in the conclusions.
