Poland president said that gas flows from Russia to Western Europe should never be restored, even if Russia and Ukraine reach a peace agreement.
Anderzig Doda BBC told the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which have not been used since 2022, “should be dismantled.”
He said that this means that the likes of Germany will not be seduced to restore Russian supplies Enhancing its faltering economy.
“I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from Russia's aggression against Ukraine and that they will pay a decision not to restore pumping gas through this pipeline,” he said.
The Polish President, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, insisted that economic sanctions against Russia were working and that European countries should resist pressure from companies to re -establish business links.
Nord Stream gas pipelines were built by the Russian GazProm giant and run between Russia and northern Germany.
Nord Stream 1 was closed in 2022 and Nord Stream 2 was not used, after the invasion of Ukraine. Both were damaged by explosions in 2022.
Gas prices have risen in Europe after the closure, and in recent months, politicians have suggested from the far right in Germany that Nord Stream gas pipes should resume operations.
Germany will hold the federal elections at the end of February.
“I think Nord Stream pipelines should be dismantled,” Doda said. “This pipeline causes a very big threat to Ukraine, to Poland, to Slovakia, as well as other Central European countries.”
He added: “It is a threat from the energy point of view, from the army's point of view, but it also represents a major economic threat because it means Russia's dominance of Europe in the economic sense.”
Regarding the possibility of an agreement between Ukraine and Russia now after US President Donald Trump has assumed his post, Doda insisted that peace talks cannot be held without the participation of Ukraine.
“I say this as President of the Republic of Poland, as a neighbors of Ukraine and also as president of a country that had very severe historical experiences,” he said.
“I am talking here and referring to World War II and to Yalta, where we did not include in those talks, where some agreements were made outside our heads and then we found ourselves behind the iron curtain, where, nearly 50 years ago, we were part of the Soviet influence.”
Trump had previously said that he would negotiate a settlement on Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022 within 24 hours – and he has since admitted that it might take some time.
Doda said it would be a “violation of international law” for Russia to allow her to adhere to the lands it occupied in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to negotiate the end of the war, which started for the first time in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea, but Ukraine must accept the reality of Russian regional gains, which are about 20 % of its territory.
Putin also refuses to accept Ukraine's accession to NATO, the military alliance of Western countries.
“The international community cannot agree, and it is unacceptable that Russia takes some Ukraine lands and keeps it by force. This is unacceptable,” Doda said.
“We should not let Russia win this war.”
Doda said Trump “understands the region” and that the participation of the United States will be essential.
“President Donald Trump as a leader of the country's most powerful country, as a leader in the strongest economy, will have a major importance.” Doda said.
“I am waiting safely on the first steps that Donald Trump will take.”
