AfD Leaders Propose Ending Ukraine Aid and Restoring Gas Pipeline to Russia
Party officials in Berlin unveiled documents calling for German neutrality in the conflict and a pragmatic reset with Washington.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
German far-right lawmakers unveiled plans to cut military support for Ukraine and restart gas flows from Russia.
Markus Frohnmaier, Stefan Keuter, and Gerold Otten presented two policy papers in Berlin on Sunday. Frohnmaier serves as the AfD parliamentary group's foreign affairs spokesperson and deputy leader. Keuter is a fellow deputy leader, while Otten heads the group's foreign affairs working group. The documents outline a new approach to transatlantic ties and Eastern European relations.
The papers argue that the United States and Europe share a deep cultural and historical bond. The authors reference millions of Americans with German ancestry and state that Donald Trump embodies this heritage. The group supports a pragmatic partnership with the current US administration. They welcome potential reductions in American troop numbers stationed in Germany. The papers also support plans to refrain from deploying US missiles on German soil.
On the Eastern front, the AfD reiterates calls to lift economic sanctions on Russia and restart the Nord Stream pipeline. The group proposes ending all military aid to Ukraine. The documents describe the ongoing war as a tragedy that requires a swift conclusion. The authors advocate for a peace settlement that respects the security interests of all parties involved.
The papers suggest that Ukraine should return to a status of neutrality, outside of both NATO and the European Union. The group argues that it is unrealistic for Kyiv to reclaim all its territory, including Crimea. They propose that guarantor countries not involved in the current conflict should secure Ukraine's state existence and retained territory after a ceasefire. The documents do not repeat the party's earlier condemnation of Russia's 2022 invasion.
The AfD continues to gain institutional ground in Germany. An AfD member of parliament was recently elected as the president of a state parliament, a first in the country's history. A recent poll indicates that a majority of German citizens view the AfD as a threat to democracy. The party's foreign policy team will now work to implement these proposals within the legislative body.
