Overview
- In a ZDF Morning Show interview, Tino Chrupalla said his “Putin has done nothing to me” comment was intended to promote détente and he repeated that he sees no current Russian threat to Germany.
- He argued that Germany should not send soldiers to foreign wars and said the country should strive to be peace‑seeking rather than war‑ready.
- He endorsed AfD lawmakers’ planned meetings in Russia as part of a BRICS‑related event and said the trips were properly registered and approved.
- Co‑leader Alice Weidel questioned the purpose of the Moscow outreach and warned of party consequences, after which Rainer Rothfuß withdrew while Steffen Kotré maintained his plan to travel.
- AfD defense figures Rüdiger Lucassen and Hannes Gnauck criticized Chrupalla’s threat assessment, while Bundestag member Matthias Moosdorf backed him and rebuked Weidel.