Germany should restore access to Russian oil and gas to help its struggling economy, Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel said, as she outlined her party’s ambition to reach the chancellery.

Weidel argued that “cheap energy from Russia” was key to Germany’s industrial success, saying the loss of that supply has cost jobs and increased dependence on the United States, where energy is more expensive. Her comments came ahead of state elections in eastern Germany, which she called decisive milestones on the road to power.

AfD is leading in polls for the September elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. If the party wins, those regional governments could challenge federal migration policy and also weaken efforts—such as a “firewall” against AfD cooperation—to keep the party out of national power.

Weidel’s push for better ties with Moscow also comes against the backdrop of the 2022 sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Before the sanctions, Russia supplied more than a third of Germany’s crude oil imports and more than half of its natural gas. Germany’s economic strain has intensified further after the shutdown of the undersea Nord Stream pipeline in 2022.

With energy prices remaining a central concern for German industry, Weidel pointed to continuing pressure on manufacturers such as Volkswagen, which has discussed major potential job cuts.

The article also ties AfD’s stance to broader questions about the stability of the Western alliance backing Ukraine, saying Germany’s public remains divided even as the government supports Kyiv.

Weidel’s remarks followed a visit by senior AfD lawmaker Markus Frohnmaier to Russia, where he met Gazprom chief Alexei Miller and called for Nord Stream’s reopening, arguing Germany should not “miss the window” to return to the Russian energy market. A Christian Democrat lawmaker criticized the AfD’s approach, saying the party is “romanticizing” Russia ahead of elections in the east.