Overview
- On ARD’s Maischberger, AfD foreign-policy spokesman Markus Frohnmaier said Germany is not at war with Russia and that Russia poses no danger, drawing a sharp rebuttal from CDU’s Norbert Röttgen.
- Röttgen called Frohnmaier’s stance the best propaganda for Putin and pointed to ongoing Russian hybrid warfare against Europe and Germany.
- Alice Weidel criticized the planned Sotschi trip by AfD lawmakers, announced possible disciplinary action up to expulsion, and said Rainer Rothfuß has withdrawn.
- Steffen Kotré intends to proceed with the visit, leaving the issue unresolved inside the party as Weidel moves to tighten future travel approvals.
- The debate unfolds as German authorities continue to warn of Russian cyber, sabotage and disinformation operations, and as AfD inquiries about infrastructure raise security concerns.