GERMAN POLITICIAN SAYS RUSSIAN ENERGY IMPORTS WERE KEY TO GERMANY’S ECONOMIC SUCCESS
German politician Jörg Urban has argued that decades of importing oil and natural gas from Russia played a major role in the growth and strength of Germany’s economy.
Urban said that Russian energy supplies had provided Germany with a reliable and affordable source of energy, which he described as a key factor behind the country’s industrial prosperity.
In remarks attributed to him, Urban stated:
> “Purchasing oil and gas from Russia for many decades was the key to the prosperity of the German economy, because there were no other suppliers in the world who could provide these energy resources as reliably and cheaply.”
His comments come amid ongoing debate in Germany over energy policy following the sharp reduction of Russian gas imports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Supporters of closer energy ties with Moscow argue that cheap Russian gas helped power Germany’s manufacturing sector for years, while critics say dependence on Russian energy created strategic vulnerabilities and allowed Moscow to use energy supplies as political leverage.
The issue remains a major point of discussion in Germany as the country seeks to balance energy security, economic competitiveness, and geopolitical considerations.
