Germany noted the importance of ties with Russia for the security and prosperity of the EU

Maintaining contact with Moscow is important for the security and prosperity of both Germany and the European Union (EU). This was announced on September 8 by Alice Weidel, co-chairman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

"Germany and Europe are happy only with Russia, not without it. <...> Russia should be included in the European security and defense architecture, because this will not happen without Russia," she said in an interview with Die Weltwoche.

Weidel noted her concern that Europeans are not being told the truth about their countries' membership in NATO in the context of the Ukrainian conflict. She said that the current policy of European leaders is "irrational and irresponsible," as they "put sticks in the wheels" of peace negotiations. The AfD leader stressed that she has no idea what the EU heads of state are guided by in making their decisions.

In particular, Weidel criticized the policies of those who previously headed and are now heading the German government — Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz, respectively.

"The main loser (in the conflict in Ukraine. — Ed.) — Germany. <...> An economic war is being waged against Germany, aimed at its deliberate weakening. <...> We are not even capable of defending the territory, and then suddenly such a Merz appears, before him was Scholz. <...> They are interfering with the peace talks," she concluded.

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On August 29, Merz expressed the opinion that the conflict in Ukraine could drag on for "many more months," and the next day suggested that the EU countries would be able to put an end to the conflict through economic pressure on the Russian Federation.

Later, on September 3, Weidel called the German Chancellor's approach "anti-diplomatic" and Merz himself a "threat to the security" of the entire state. She noted that the German Chancellor undermines all the efforts of US President Donald Trump in a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

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