Bangladesh, Jan. 25 -- The long-running controversy surrounding the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines has re-emerged as a major political issue in Germany, following remarks by Alice Weidel, co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Weidel has demanded that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and the Ukrainian state compensate Germany for the 2022 explosions that crippled the pipelines, arguing that the attack amounted to a hostile act against German national interests.

Speaking at a campaign event in Heilbronn on January 22, Weidel accused Ukraine of orchestrating the sabotage with the assistance of foreign intelligence services and sharply criticized the German government for continuing military and ...