AfD and BSW are pushing for an end to sanctions against Moscow as soaring fuel prices squeeze German consumers<\/p>\n
Two German opposition parties have called for restoring economic ties with Russia following US President Donald Trump\u2019s example in striking a diesel deal with Moscow, challenging Chancellor Friedrich Merz\u2019s sanctions policy as soaring fuel prices put further pressure on Europe\u2019s largest economy.
\nThe right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which together command a majority in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt\u2019s parliament, are preparing a joint resolution demanding an end to anti-Russia sanctions and financial support for Kiev amid growing frustration over Berlin\u2019s foreign policy and its economic consequences.
\n\u201cGermany also needs a diesel deal with Russia,\u201d Claudia Wittig, deputy leader of the BSW parliamentary group, said, according to German media.
\nWittig described fuel prices at German filling stations as \u201ca scandal,\u201d arguing that sanctions against Moscow had \u201cfailed across the board\u201d and were primarily hurting Germany itself. She insisted that Berlin should go further than a one-off fuel agreement and resume regular imports of Russian oil and gas to help rescue German industry.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Trump lifted Russian fuel ban after Zelensky rejected his demands \u2013 Axios<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need policies that think more about K\u00f6then than Kiev,\u201d Wittig said earlier, referring to a German town in Saxony-Anhalt. \u201cWe can no longer afford this war.\u201d
\nAfD co-leader Alice Weidel also hailed Trump\u2019s deal with Moscow, accusing Merz of undermining Germany\u2019s economy with sanctions and expensive liquefied natural gas imports.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s how it\u2019s done!\u201d she wrote on X on Saturday. \u201cWhile Merz ruins Germany with sanctions and expensive LNG, Trump practices realpolitik. German interests instead of escalation!\u201d
\nThe initiative comes after Trump reached a surprise agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to ease a global diesel shortage. Washington subsequently suspended sanctions on Russian diesel exports, allowing Moscow to release hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel onto international markets.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Merz \u2018shocked\u2019 by AfD win but refuses to change course (VIDEO)<\/p>\n
Trump has repeatedly blamed Vladimir Zelensky for exacerbating the global energy crisis by targeting Russian oil refineries despite Washington\u2019s warnings. On Saturday, he suggested that Ukrainians should replace their leader, accusing Zelensky of rejecting numerous opportunities to settle the conflict.
\nThe joint resolution is scheduled for a vote in the Saxony-Anhalt parliament in Magdeburg on October 14. AfD and BSW hold a combined majority following September\u2019s regional elections, although the state legislature has no authority to lift federal or EU sanctions against Russia. The initiative also marks a further breach of Germany\u2019s longstanding political \u201cfirewall\u201d against the AfD, which mainstream parties have sought to exclude from power despite its growing electoral support.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Merz turned into \u2018Ukrainian chancellor\u2019 \u2013 Moscow<\/p>\n
Merz\u2019s government flatly rejected any prospects of easing its anti-Russia stance and vowed to pursue even more sanctions against Moscow. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius insisted on Saturday that Berlin\u2019s support for Kiev remained \u201cunwavering.\u201d Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner blasted Trump\u2019s agreement with Putin as the height of \u201cunscrupulousness.\u201d
\nThe chancellor, whose popularity has sunk so low that he faces calls to resign from within his own party, has faced mounting criticism over the impact of his policies on Germany. Wagenknecht previously accused him of turning German citizens into \u201ccash cows for Ukraine.\u201d Moscow has likewise accused Merz of acting more like a \u201cUkrainian chancellor\u201d than a German leader.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AfD and BSW are pushing for an end to sanctions against Moscow as soaring fuel prices squeeze German consumers Two German opposition parties have called for restoring economic ties with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39736,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t