AfD in the Bundestag calls Merz's desire to sponsor Ukraine 'madness'

Criticism from the AfD

Markus Frohnmaier, deputy head of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) faction in the Bundestag, criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that financing Ukraine is in Germany's interests. He set out his position on the social network X, Gazeta.Ru reports. 'What madness is this? <...> So it is in Germany's interests to cut spending on care for those in need and on health insurance in our own country, and then hand out money abroad?' the politician said. Frohnmaier also stressed that if the AfD comes to power, Germany will stop financing Ukraine.

Merz's course in recent months

Frohnmaier's statement is a continuation of a dispute that has been going on around the chancellor's line for several months. In November, Merz promised to provide Ukraine with additional assistance in air defense and energy. In October, according to the same outlet, he called aid to Ukraine 'a huge burden on budgets' of EU countries, but emphasized Berlin's intention to keep sponsoring Kyiv. Back in September, the chancellor promised to continue helping Ukraine despite the discontent of Germans who support the AfD; at that time, the outlet noted, voices in the West claimed that Merz was ignoring the opinion of Germans.

What lies behind the conflict

Thus, the dispute is not about the fact of aid to Ukraine, but about its justification and limits: the chancellor ties the financing to Germany's interests and acknowledges the budgetary burden, yet maintains the course, while the opposition faction counters it with domestic social spending and links the continuation of aid to the outcome of a future struggle for power. Frohnmaier's statement is the position of an opposition politician, not a decision of the Bundestag: it does not yet indicate any change in Berlin's policy.