Germany exploring ways to block Nord Stream revival under Russia-U.S. agreement

Bild reported the information.

Earlier, BILD and the Financial Times have claimed that secret negotiations have been taking place for weeks between representatives of Russia and the United States about the possibility of American investors acquiring the damaged Baltic Sea pipeline.

According to sources within the German government, rumors of a potential Trump-Putin deal concerning European gas supplies have been circulating for some time. Officials consider this a "realistic scenario" and are currently conducting thorough assessments to determine what measures Germany can take to prevent a revival of Nord Stream 2.

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter warned of the implications: "Selling Russian gas under a U.S. label would symbolically strengthen the ideological connection between Trump, his MAGA supporters, and the Kremlin system. Nord Stream can never be part of peace and will not facilitate peace negotiations — quite the opposite." 

Following Russia's attack on Ukraine, three out of four Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed in an act of sabotage, with experts estimating that repairs would cost more than half a billion euros.

Multiple independent sources have reportedly confirmed to BILD in recent weeks that Richard Grenell (58), former U.S. ambassador to Germany, was involved in these secret discussions. BILD claims that when it confronted Grenell about this in February, he responded sarcastically, saying, "Go ahead and publish that I am involved in this wild story," before calling the journalist a "crackpot" and aggressively asking if he could post BILD's inquiry on Twitter (now X). Grenell has since denied the report, claiming he was never contacted by BILD and dismissing the investigation as "fake news."

Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, has made the government's position clear: "Independence from Russian gas is of strategic importance for Germany’s security policy, and we remain committed to it. Furthermore, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline lacks certification and is therefore not legally permitted."

• There are ongoing negotiations regarding the restoration of an undamaged branch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, according to a report by Bild.