Boris Ruge: Germany is not returning to energy partnership with Russia

A turning point in German-Russian relations

Boris Ruge, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine, does not support the idea of restoring relations with Russia and supplying Russian energy resources to Europe via Ukraine in order to achieve a lasting peace. The diplomat emphasised that Berlin sees no point in returning to a model where the supply of Russian resources through Ukrainian territory was supposed to guarantee lasting peace. According to him, Berlin’s previous attempts to build a partnership with Moscow ended in failure.

A mistake that should not be repeated

Ruge noted that the period after 1991 became a vivid example of how hopes for mutually beneficial cooperation proved to be futile. He recalled that European countries, particularly Germany, invested significant efforts in creating dialogue mechanisms, including the Russia-NATO Council and the energy partnership. However, as the ambassador stressed, Moscow ultimately chose the path of war, hybrid attacks, and interference in the information space and domestic politics of other states.

«Ми помилялися, вважаючи, що зможемо розвинути партнерство з Росією. Росія відмовилася від партнерства, яке ми пропонували, і стала агресивним імперіалістичним гравцем, який ставить за мету докорінно змінити весь політичний лад Європи» (We were wrong to think that we could develop a partnership with Russia. Russia rejected the partnership we offered and became an aggressive imperialist player aiming to fundamentally change the entire political order of Europe), the diplomat stated.

The energy sector as the main failure

Boris Ruge identified the energy sector as one of the biggest failures of the previous policy towards Russia. Previously, Western Europe hoped that the status of a major market for Russian energy carriers would encourage Moscow to maintain peace and develop positive relations with European partners. However, according to the ambassador, the Russian leadership’s vision turned out to be different.

«Ця наша спроба була провальна» (This attempt of ours was a failure), he concluded.

Rejecting past experience

The diplomat criticised current calls to restore positive relations with Russia, reminding that for about twenty years, European countries had tried to develop such a partnership, but this did not prevent Russian aggression. In his opinion, very few people remain in Western Europe who are ready to make their states dependent on Moscow again.

«Тому ми не повернемося до цього. Я не вірю, що це знайде підтримку більшості у Німеччині» (Therefore, we will not return to this. I do not believe that this will find support from the majority in Germany), the ambassador stated.

Thus, the German ambassador spoke against returning to a model of relations where economic and energy partnership was supposed to guarantee stability and peace on the continent.