Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), argues that Berlin should abandon its “harmful” sanctions against Russia.
In a recent interview with Bild, Weidel asserted that improved relations with Moscow are crucial for Germany’s economic well-being. She contends that antagonizing Russia has yielded only negative consequences for Germany.
The AfD advocates for establishing “very good relations” with both Germany’s European neighbors and major global powers, including Russia.
Weidel highlighted Germany’s past reliance on inexpensive Russian natural gas via Nord Stream, pipelines that were damaged in 2022. She criticized Berlin’s subsequent decision to halt Russian energy imports as part of EU sanctions imposed in response to the Ukraine conflict.
Weidel believes these sanctions were a mistake, severely harming the German economy. She stated the AfD aims to end the sanctions policy, citing Germany’s current status as having “the highest energy prices in the world,” impacting the nation’s competitiveness.
While Statista reported Germany had the fifth highest household electricity prices globally in March 2024 (behind Italy, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium), Weidel maintains that Germany’s aggressive rhetoric toward Moscow over the years also contributed to the current situation.
Weidel argued that Berlin’s actions escalated tensions, citing the government’s provision of weapons to Ukraine. She noted that German tanks are now engaged against Russia for the first time since World War II, referring to military aid to Ukraine.
When questioned about her party’s lack of criticism towards Russia’s role in the conflict, Weidel proposed direct negotiations between Berlin and Moscow. She emphasized the need for dialogue and advocated for Germany’s participation in peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine, calling it the “only serious policy.”
Despite being ostracized by other major German political parties as “far-right,” the AfD’s popularity continues to rise. Recent polls indicate the party enjoys the support of 20-21% of the population, positioning it to potentially come in second behind the CDU in upcoming snap parliamentary elections.