Polish President Urges Dismantling of Nord Stream to Block Russian Gas Dependency

Polish President Andrzej Duda has called for the permanent dismantling of the Nord Stream pipelines, which have been inactive since 2022, to ensure that Western Europe does not resume gas imports from Russia, even if a peace agreement is reached between Ukraine and Russia.

In an interview with the BBC on January 27, Duda emphasized the need for European leaders to learn from the Russian aggression against Ukraine and to prevent any return to reliance on Russian gas. He stated that dismantling the pipelines would remove the temptation for countries like Germany to resume energy imports from Russia to stabilize their economies.

“The Nord Stream pipelines pose a significant threat not only to Ukraine but also to Poland, Slovakia, and other Central European countries,” Duda said. He described the pipelines as risks from energy, military, and economic perspectives, warning that their existence could facilitate Russian dominance over Europe.

Duda also addressed recent proposals by far-right German politicians to restore gas flows through Nord Stream, citing the sharp increase in energy prices in Europe since the pipelines were rendered inoperable in 2022. He expressed hope that European leaders would unite to ensure that Russian energy supplies to Europe are permanently halted.

The Polish President linked his stance on the pipelines to broader concerns about Russia’s geopolitical ambitions. He argued that allowing Russia to maintain its control over Ukrainian territory through any peace agreement would constitute a violation of international law. Duda insisted that no peace talks should occur without Ukraine’s direct involvement and that the international community must stand firm against Russian territorial aggression.

“This is unacceptable,” Duda stated. “The international community cannot agree to any scenario where Russia retains control of occupied Ukrainian territories. We must ensure that Russia does not achieve its objectives in this war.”

Earlier, Ukraine and Poland announced plans to establish an Eastern European gas hub, utilizing Ukraine’s underground storage and Poland’s LNG  terminals to supply fuel to Europe while bypassing Russia. This initiative aims to replace the expiring transit contract with Gazprom, signaling a shift toward energy independence in the region.