AfD boss Chrupalla calls for the end of Russia sanctions and negotiations "maybe in Berlin"
Created: 07/17/2022, 18:55
By: Andreas Schmid
AfD boss Tino Chrupalla in the ARD summer interview with moderator Matthias Deiß.
© Joerg Carstensen/dpa
AfD boss Tino Chrupalla calls for "German interests" to be more closely integrated into current Ukraine politics.
He wants to mediate in the war - "perhaps also in Berlin".
Berlin – AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla is not without controversy.
Also because of its proximity to Russia.
In 2020 he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
In the summer interview with ARD, Chrupalla defended himself: "I'm not Putin's speaking doll".
The party leader also said: “Of course we condemn this attack.
That affects and upsets me what is happening in Eastern Europe.” But it is also about “German interests”.
ARD summer interview: AfD wants to act as a “neutral mediator” in the Ukraine war
Chrupalla called for a diplomatic way to end the war "as soon as possible" - also so that Germany would not be drawn into a "third world war".
"I simply cannot accept that we as Germany are so generous in supporting whichever side and even want to prolong this war." Germany must work as a "neutral mediator" to bring Russia to the negotiating table, " maybe also here in Berlin,” said Chrupalla.
When asked how Russian President Vladimir Putin should be persuaded to negotiate with the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for example about a ceasefire, the AfD boss replied: "The Americans also refuse to sit down with the Russians at the table to set, and that's where they belong.
It is not only Zelenskyy's task to deal with Russia, but also the Americans, who play an important role in this conflict there.
The federal government has repeatedly pointed out that Ukraine is a sovereign state that must itself decide on an agreement with Russia.
There should be no Russian “dictated peace”.
In addition to the moderator's questions, Chrupalla also answered public questions on ARD.
For example, when asked "Who should win the war, Ukraine or Russia?" he answered "None."
ARD summer interview: Chrupalla calls for the sanctions to end
Chrupalla, who rejects further arms deliveries to Ukraine, also spoke of an "economic war against Russia" and "absolutely misplaced sanctions".
The Saxon called for the sanctions against Russia to be ended because these "harm the most" German companies and citizens.
Chrupalla expects more approval for this course in the fall as a result of rising energy prices.
In November and December, when citizens and companies receive their heating bills, "then we'll see how people agree to these sanctions."
The quick question round, in which Chrupalla had to answer with short sentences, was also interesting.
When asked "Crimea - Russian or Ukrainian" Chrupalla said: "I think that will remain Russian".
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AfD: Nine electoral defeats in a row - Chrupalla always there
The AfD is fighting for its course.
The right-wing populists lost votes in the last nine state elections.
In the 2021 federal election it was 2.1 percentage points less, in Schleswig-Holstein the party was thrown out of the state parliament.
A graphic is circulating internally for the AfD in which these election results are listed.
Including a photo of Tino Chrupalla, a bouquet of flowers inserted with Photoshop and an ironic "congratulations".
The party leader is the main actor in the dwindling electoral successes.
He was recently confirmed as party leader at a chaotic party conference, but with a relatively narrow majority of 53.4 percent.
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