Ex-spy is working on revival of north stream 2

Restart with the USA as a middleman?

Ex-spy is supposed to revive north stream 2

A former GDR spy could be involved in the revival of Nord Stream 2. The Trump administration also plays a major role in the restart plans.

According to “Financial Times”, Matthias Warnig, a former Stasi officer, should be responsible for the conversations. By 2023, Warnig was managing director of Nord Stream 2 AG, the operating company of the Pipeline project under the control of the Russian energy giant Gazprom. He is supposed to strive to intensify economic relationships between the United States and Russia, parallel to the peace talks for the Ukraine War. The “Financial Times” quotes anonymous sources also quotes close confidants of US President Trump in the talks.

According to the report, the core of the idea is a role of the United States as a middleman for Russian gas to Europe. The US government would not officially be integrated into the deal, but US investors could benefit financially and at the same time maintain regulatory influence on the gas flow to Europe.

Several persons trusted with the negotiations report that a US-conducted consortium has already developed a proposal for a business with Gazprom in the period after sanctions against Russia. The identity of the investors involved remains unclear. In the European Union, the reports ensure concern – several governments are supposed to discuss the potential consequences of a deal that would again lead Europe into dependency on Russian gas.

It is questionable whether the plan could be implemented. First of all, the United States would have to lift its current sanctions against Russia and Russian companies. At the same time, Russia would have to agree again to deliver gas to Europe and Germany. The federal government would also have to get involved with an agreement that would bring both a dependency on the USA and Russia.

However, statements by Russian President Putin from the recent past indicate that he could be open to a possible gas agreement. He emphasized several times that the United States could benefit economically from peace in Ukraine, and indicated that “some companies” already had corresponding discussions. The US President was also interested in the resumption of economic relationships between the two countries.

At the request of the “Financial Times”, Matthias Warnig, who has been on the US sanction list since 2022, denied any participation in discussions with US politicians or business people. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow also denied corresponding reports. Gazprom refused to comment.

The future of the possible North Stream deal could now decide before a cantonal court in Switzerland. The operator of North Stream based in Switzerland is insolvent because no gas has been flowing through the pipeline for years. The responsible bankruptcy court in the canton of Zug has therefore set potential investors a deadline until May 9th.

Originally, the decision should have been made in January, but due to the complex geopolitical situation and the takeover of Donald Trump, the court granted a postponement. During his first term, Trump Nord Stream 2 was extremely critical of and used the pipeline as a symbol for Germany – and thus Europe – dependence on Russian gas, which indirectly contributed to the financing of the Russian military. Now, however, some members of his Nord Stream 2 team see as a strategic means of pressure that could be used in the Ukraine peace talks, reported a government official of the “Financial Times”.