A senior AfD parliamentary leader, Markus Frohnmaier, has denied that Russia poses a threat to Germany, calling for dialogue to resolve the Ukraine conflict instead of military intervention. This assertion challenges the government’s stance on the issue and underscores the party’s long-standing criticism of Western military aid to Ukraine.
Frohnmaier emphasized German national interests, arguing that the country should not be involved in a foreign war and had no obligation to defend Ukraine, which is not a NATO member. He also dismissed allegations that the AfD was acting in Moscow’s interests, highlighting a broader debate within Germany about the country’s foreign policy priorities.
During a televised debate with CDU leader Norbert Roettgen, Frohnmaier stated, “I stand for German interests,” and went on to say that Germany should not “get involved in a foreign war.” He further criticized the government for what he called a “hyper-moralizing” foreign policy, suggesting that the administration was being overly interventionist in its approach to the conflict.
Roettgen, for his part, claimed that Moscow was waging a “hybrid war” against Germany and other European states, accusing his opponent of spreading Russian “propaganda.” In a speech last week, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also listed Russia as one of the threats to Germany’s national security.
Germany recently announced plans to increase financial aid to Kiev by €3 billion ($3.5 billion) next year and, according to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, delivered additional US-made Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine last month. A Forsa opinion poll in August found that 52% of respondents in Germany believed Ukraine should cede some territory to Russia to end the conflict, although Zelensky has ruled out any territorial concessions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that NATO members, including Germany, were already de facto “at war with Russia” because Ukrainian forces were actively using Western-supplied weapons. He has repeatedly said that Russia would not attack NATO states unless attacked first.