The president of Poland said that Russia’s gas flows in Western Europe should never be restored, even if Russia and Ukraine conclude a peace agreement.
Andrzej Duda told the BBC that the northern flow gas pipelines, which had not been used since 2022, “should be dismantled”.
That, he said, would mean that Germany would not be tempted to restore Russian supplies to stimulate its own economy in difficulty.
“I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from the assault of Russia against Ukraine and that they will pass through a decision to never restore the pumping of gas through this pipeline,” said -Ali said.
The Polish president, speaking to the Davos World Economic Forum, insisted that economic sanctions against Russia were working and that European countries should resist the pressure of companies to restore business ties.
The North Stream gas pipelines were built by the Russian gas giant Gazprom and run between Russia and northern Germany.
Nord Stream 1 was closed in 2022 and Nord Stream 2 has never been used, after the invasion of Ukraine. Both were damaged by explosions in 2022.
The gas prices in Europe have jumped after closing and in recent months of politicians from the far -right AFD party in Germany have suggested that Nord Stream gas pipes should resume operations.
Germany will organize federal elections at the end of February.
“I think North Stream pipelines should be dismantled,” said Duda. “This pipeline causes a very great threat to Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia but also for other countries in Central Europe.”
He added: “It is a threat from the point of view of energy, from the point of view of the military, but it is also a huge economic threat because it means a domination of Russia over Europe in the economic sense . “
On the prospect of an agreement between Ukraine and Russia now that US President Donald Trump has taken office, Duda insisted that no peace talks could take place without the participation of Ukraine.
“I say that in my capacity as President of the Republic of Poland, as a neighbor of Ukraine and also president of a country that has had very difficult historical experiences itself,” he said.
“I speak here and I refer to the Second World War and Yalta where we were not included in these talks, where certain agreements were concluded beyond our head, then we ended up behind the iron curtain , where, for almost 50 years, we were part of the Soviet sphere of influence, “he said.
Trump had previously declared that he would negotiate a regulation at the Russia’s invasion on a large scale of Ukraine launched in February 2022 in 24 hours – he has since recognized that this could take some time.
Duda said it would be a “violation of international law” for Russia to be authorized to keep the territory it occupied in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to negotiate the end of the war, which began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, but Ukraine should accept the reality of Russian territorial gains, which currently represent around 20 % of its land.
Putin also refuses to accept Ukraine joining NATO, the military alliance of Western countries.
Duda said: “The international community cannot agree, and it is unacceptable that Russia will take certain territories of Ukraine and keep them by force. It is unacceptable.
“We must not let Russia win this war.”
Duda said Trump “understands the region” and that the United States participation would be essential.
“President Donald Trump as head of the most powerful country of NATO, as head of the most powerful economy will be of important importance.” said Duda.
“I’m peacefully waiting for the first steps that will be taken by Donald Trump.”
