Germany’s AfD calls for ‘different’ approach to end Russia-Ukraine war

Germany's right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Monday urged "a different approach to peace and diplomacy" for ending the war in Ukraine, calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to embark on a visit to Moscow for talks.​​​​​​​

Germans want "to see a different kind of policy here, including a different approach to peace and diplomacy. They want Friedrich Merz to finally travel to Moscow and hold talks there, so that the spiral of escalation, and the arms race, can finally be broken," AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla said at a media briefing in Berlin.

“We want good cooperation with all major powers, with America and China alike. The sanctions policy (against Russia) has primarily harmed the German economy,” he added.

Chrupalla's remarks were underscored by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel who stressed that “it is important to us to open up a channel of communication with the Russian side, together with the Americans.”

“Both sides have concluded that the AfD is the only remaining reliable partner in Germany,” she added.

The AfD won the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, its second state victory in just two weeks, while Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered its worst-ever showing in its 81-year history, according to preliminary results.

The CDU crashed out of the parliament in the northeastern state with just 4.9% of the vote, down from 13.3% in the last election in 2021 and just short of the 5% threshold.

The AfD earned around 38.2% of the vote, ahead of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 35.5%, according to the election commission.