Poland's Duda Urges Permanent Halt to Russian Gas Supplies

Andrzej Duda emphasizes the importance of maintaining sanctions against Russia even in the event of a Ukraine peace deal.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has voiced a strong stance against the resumption of natural gas supplies from Russia to Western Europe, asserting that such a move should be permanently prohibited, regardless of any potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Duda stated, "The Nord Stream gas pipelines should be dismantled," expressing concern that countries like Germany might be tempted to reinstate Russian gas imports to support their recovering economies.

Duda's comments come in light of the fact that the Nord Stream pipelines have been inactive since 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and they suffered damage from explosions in the same year. He highlighted the significant risks these pipelines pose not just in terms of energy security but also as a military and economic threat to Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and other Central European nations. This, he argues, would signify Russia's dominance over Europe in economic matters.

With Germany's federal elections approaching, there has been a resurgence of dialogue among some political factions, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, urging the resumption of operations at Nord Stream. Duda warned against this sentiment, stressing the necessity for European leaders to heed the lessons drawn from Russia's actions. He remarked, "Economic sanctions against Russia are yielding results, and we must resist pressures from corporations to revive business ties."

Furthermore, Duda firmly stated that no negotiations could proceed without the involvement of Ukraine. Reflecting on Poland's historical experiences with negotiations that excluded its interests, he remarked, "We cannot permit a repetition of past mistakes where decisions are made without proper representation." Duda reaffirmed that recognizing Russia's territorial claims following its aggression would violate international law.

He appealed for collective international resolve, insisting, "It is unacceptable that Russia retains occupied territories," stressing that allowing Russia to win would set a dangerous precedent. Duda recognized the critical role of U.S. leadership in addressing the ongoing conflict and expressed his anticipation for forthcoming actions from U.S. President Donald Trump. "Trump understands the region. His involvement is critical," he concluded, highlighting the necessity for a united front against Russian aggression.