Ukraine: AfD questions German aid, Berlin remains committed
Emboldened by its win in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany wants the country to change its Ukraine and Russia policies. Berlin is staying the course, but support is fading, especially in the east.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz maintains support for Ukraine despite challenges from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. During a Bundestag debate on September 9, Merz stated that Germany will continue providing military aid to Ukraine because it defends their shared freedom. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel questioned this stance, arguing that Germany should push for peace talks similar to those proposed by the United States.
Weidel suggested that Ukraine receives billions in payments at Germany's expense, and that the Ukrainian government may be responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. She also suggested that a Ukrainian sabotage team was behind the pipeline attack.
AfD lawmaker Jürgen Koegel expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the debate, stating that Putin poses no threat to NATO. This position is consistent with the party's growing skepticism towards supporting Ukraine, particularly in Saxony-Anhalt where the AfD received nearly 44% of the vote in the state election held on September 6.
A survey conducted just before the election revealed a significant east-west divide in Germany on the issue of military support for Ukraine, with 39% of western Germans favoring reduced assistance and 54% of eastern Germans believing more should be done. Political scientists suggest that this divide is rooted in a preference for diplomacy over military intervention and fear of further entanglement in conflict. Despite this, Chancellor Merz remains committed to his policy of continued support for Ukraine.
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