Top economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and far-right Alternative for Germany leaders are preparing for a March 2027 summit to discuss restarting Russian gas supplies. The proposed talks, dependent on a Ukraine peace framework, highlight deep political fractures over energy dependence and relations with Moscow.
Planning the March 2027 Summit and Participants
Preparations are underway for a high-level meeting as early as March 2027 between the leadership of Germany’s Alternative for Germany party and top Moscow officials to discuss restoring Russian gas supplies to Europe’s largest economy. The proposed discussions involve Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and serves as a top economic envoy for President Vladimir Putin, alongside AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, according to two people familiar with the plans.
The prospective gathering would only take place if Russia and Ukraine first reach an agreement on a peace framework. Organizers have floated potential locations for the summit, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, or India. The talks are intended to examine the possible reopening of the crippled Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines.
Organizers reportedly hoped to involve U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following Dmitriev’s recent meetings in Moscow with American representatives. However, a senior U.S. official stated that Witkoff and Kushner have not been informed about or invited to the proposed summit.
Political Momentum and Electoral Gains in Germany
Although the AfD remains blocked from national power by a coalition of rival mainstream parties, it stands as Germany’s most popular political force with voters according to the sources familiar with the planning. The party recently secured a major victory to become the largest force in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, and faces another test of its popularity in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the Nord Stream pipelines make landfall.
The AfD frames its push to resume Russian energy imports as a pragmatic remedy for the country’s economic struggles. Weidel previously advocated ending the boycott of Russian oil and gas, describing cheap energy from Russia
as the secret of the success of ‘Made in Germany’.
Outside support for the dialogue came from the American Chamber of Commerce in Moscow, which welcomed the initiative as a positive and timely step.
Robert Agee, president of AmCham Russia, argued that involving Germany as a key European economy can create a broader platform for global issues.
Sharp Warnings and Domestic Backlash Over Security Risks
Any move to restore Russian energy flows or restart the pipelines would stoke fierce resistance across Germany and among its European allies, particularly in Eastern Europe. Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent Western sanctions, Russia supplied more than half of Germany’s natural gas and over a third of its crude oil imports.
“We cannot repeat the mistakes of the energy crisis. It cost us €50 billion. We cannot want to go back to that. It would be treason. Putin is using the AfD to his own ends.”
Michael Kellner, Green lawmaker
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously ruled out any future restart of the Nord Stream pipelines, which suffered severe damage from explosions in September 2022. Lawmakers from the Christian Democratic Union also condemned the planned engagement with Moscow.
“The AfD is on Russia’s side, willing to betray both the Ukraine and Germany. Russia uses energy, especially Nord Stream, as a hybrid weapon for military purposes. Reopening Nord Stream would be a disaster for European security and isolate Germany.”
Roderich Kiesewetter, Christian Democrat lawmaker
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