Germany's AfD demands end to Ukraine military aid and new ties with Trump

The Alternative for Germany party has formally called for an end to military aid to Ukraine. The proposal also includes a halt to sanctions against Russia and the return of the country to a neutral status. The party's foreign policy wing released two position papers in Berlin on Sunday. The documents lay out a specific blueprint for shifting German foreign policy. They prioritize a new approach to the transatlantic relationship and the conflict in Eastern Europe.

Markus Frohnmaier, Stefan Keuter, and Gerold Otten presented the plans. Frohnmaier serves as the parliamentary group's foreign affairs spokesperson and deputy leader. Keuter is a fellow deputy leader. Otten is the deputy head of the group's foreign affairs working group. The three officials outlined the party's stance on its primary international partners. The papers mark a clear departure from previous German government positions on the war.

The documents describe the United States and Europe as inextricably linked by shared culture and history. The authors note that millions of Americans are descendants of German immigrants. They argue that figures like Donald Trump embody this heritage. The party welcomes certain aspects of the current US administration's foreign policy shift. They support a pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides.

The AfD proposes a reduction in US troop numbers stationed in Germany. The party also backs plans to not deploy US missiles on German soil. These points appear in the paper focused on transatlantic relations. The goal is to create a more balanced security arrangement. The party views this as a step toward a more independent German defense policy.

In the second paper, the party addresses German-Russian relations. It reiterates calls to restart the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The documents call for lifting economic sanctions against Russia. The text describes the war in Ukraine as a tragedy that should end as soon as possible. It advocates for a peace settlement that considers the security interests of all parties. The paper does not repeat the party's 2022 condemnation of Russia's invasion.

The proposal states that Ukraine should be neither a NATO nor an EU member. It suggests Ukraine should become a neutral state again. Russia must recognize Ukraine's sovereignty under this plan. However, the authors state it is unrealistic for Ukraine to regain all its territory, including Crimea. They propose that guarantor countries secure Ukraine's existence and remaining territory. These guarantors should preferably be nations not involved in the current war.

The party's stance comes as a recent poll shows a majority of Germans view the AfD as a threat to democracy. An AfD member of parliament was recently elected as the president of a state parliament. This was the first time an AfD member has held that position in Germany's history. The new papers provide a detailed framework for the party's future diplomatic actions.