Overview
- On ARD’s Maischberger, Markus Frohnmaier said Germany is not at war with Russia, rejected the idea that Moscow threatens Germany, and called for a serious peace initiative instead of continued arms for Ukraine.
- Frohnmaier defended party delegations to Russia as keeping channels open, as reports noted AfD lawmakers plan to attend a BRICS event in Sochi this month and to travel again in spring.
- CDU foreign-policy veteran Norbert Röttgen countered that Russia is waging a hybrid war against Germany and called Frohnmaier’s stance the best propaganda Putin could wish for.
- Security circles and CDU lawmakers cautioned that AfD travel and inquiries could enable an outflow of confidential information, framing the trips as a potential espionage risk.
- Coverage revisited Frohnmaier’s 2014 Crimea visit and a 2019 Kremlin-linked document alleging he was under “absolute control,” which he dismissed, while he also claimed AfD sources relay details from CDU retreats.