Markus Frohnmaier sees no danger for Germany in Putin’s Russia and calls for “serious peace initiatives” from “Maischberger”. CDU foreign politician Röttgen spoke out against the AfD politician and accused him of Russian propaganda.
According to the foreign policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group, Markus Frohnmaier, Russia under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin does not pose a threat to Germany. Frohnmaier, who is also deputy head of the AfD parliamentary group, answered “No” to presenter Sandra Maischberger’s question about the ARD program of the same name.
During the event, Frohnmaier exchanged blows with foreign CDU politician Norbert Röttgen, who accused him of clearly being “in Putin’s interests” and representing his interests in Germany.
Röttgen: “The best propaganda Putin could hope for”
Röttgen called Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine attacks on civilians. Putin also wages a hybrid war against Germany on a daily basis with espionage, sabotage, attacks on critical infrastructure, and destruction of data cables.
“And anyone who, considering the stark reality of the war of extermination in Europe and the hybrid war against Europe, against Germany, says that there is no danger at all, I think that is the best propaganda that Putin could hope for,” Röttgen said.
Frohnmaier accused Röttgen of moralizing. This is a matter of interests and of course Russia has different interests from Germany. “We are not at war with Russia,” said the AfD politician. He called for “serious peace initiatives”. “I think it would be a mistake to believe that this conflict can be resolved by continually supplying more weapons and sending money to Ukraine.”
Frohnmaier defends AfD’s trip to Russia
The deputy president of the parliamentary group defended the trip of AfD politicians to Russia. “When we go on trips like this, the most important thing is to keep the channels of conversation open,” Frohnmaier said. The program also spoke about his trip to Crimea after Russia’s annexation in 2014 and Frohnmaier’s statement that the peninsula would probably remain Russia’s. “It’s about realpolitik,” he said.
He also rejected accusations from long-standing reports that he was under Russian control. “I clearly represent German interests,” said the AfD lawmaker.
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