Germany’s SPD Signals Support for Nord Stream 2 Reprieve Amid US-Russia Talks

A leading figure from Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) expressed support for a possible move by the United States to lift sanctions specifically on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline , suggesting it could contribute to efforts toward peace in Ukraine, POLITICO reported on April 24.

Nina Scheer, the SPD’s spokesperson on energy matters, said that the US sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were “unlawful from the start,” and suggested that removing them would align with international law.

“Lifting them would be in line with international law. In the interest of pursuing diplomatic paths to peace and ending the war of aggression against Ukraine, steps that could potentially support this process should be encouraged,” Scheer told POLITICO.

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The SPD is poised to join the incoming German government as a junior partner in a coalition led by the conservative CDU under Friedrich Merz. Despite her comments on Nord Stream 2, Scheer reaffirmed her party’s firm stance on transitioning to renewable energy.

“We must accelerate the transition to renewable energy. This remains true no matter how sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are handled,” she said.

The remarks come amid reports that Steve Witkoff, an envoy for US President Donald Trump, has been advocating for lifting sanctions on Russian energy infrastructure — including the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline — as part of broader negotiations with Moscow aimed at easing tensions and reaching a ceasefire in Ukraine. Notably, Ukraine has not been included in these reported talks.

According to POLITICO, the proposal has met skepticism in Germany, where energy policy has shifted significantly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action firmly rejected the idea of reactivating Nord Stream 2.

“The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is not certified and has not been legally approved. As such, using the pipeline is not even under consideration,” a ministry spokesperson told POLITICO.

Michael Gahler, foreign policy spokesperson for the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament, voiced strong concerns over the US initiative.

“We are deeply concerned that the Trump administration appears willing to abandon international law, betray Ukraine, grant Russia impunity, and do business with Putin,” he said. “A new German government would also not allow Nord Stream to be reactivated. We will not make the same mistake twice.”

Previously, it was reported that Russia appears to be making quiet preparations to restore the Nord Stream gas pipelines, despite skepticism from experts.