Criticism of AfD trip to St. Petersburg: Federal government warns of propaganda effect

For the AfD, Bundestag members Markus Frohnmaier and Steffen Kotré traveled, as did the Saxon AfD state chairman Jörg Urban and EU Parliament member Petr Bystron. As a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin announced, the federal government had explicitly warned the AfD against participation before the trip and pointed out that it did not support such travel. It had also referred to the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population and emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Moscow to end the war of aggression.

Background: The SPIEF Economic Forum

The focus of the criticism is primarily a meeting between the deputy AfD parliamentary group leader Markus Frohnmaier and the Chairman of the Board of Gazprom, Alexey Miller, at the company's headquarters. According to Frohnmaier, the discussion concerned the possibility of restarting the Baltic Sea pipelines Nord Stream and resuming Russian gas supplies. Frohnmaier told the news agency AFP that he saw his task as "keeping communication channels open under difficult conditions and representing German interests." Regarding the war in Ukraine, he said: "However, my participation does not mean approval of the war in Ukraine."

Frohnmaier rejected the criticism of his trip. He had already stated before his departure that he was aware that the trip would be perceived sensitively and that it was time to engage in dialogue. A spokeswoman for the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag stated that it was sensible to "maintain contacts with all parties and keep communication channels open." AfD party and parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel supported the trip, saying it was always good to exchange ideas and maintain good contacts with all parties. Only in mid-November had Weidel expressed displeasure regarding another conference in Sochi, Russia, which Kotré and Urban had attended, saying such trips made no sense.

Reaction of the Federal Government

The Federal Foreign Office reacted with clear words to the participation. A spokeswoman told journalists in Berlin that, in light of the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population, it was "contrary to the foreign and security policy principles of the federal government" if "for example, by participating in state-organized propaganda events," the impression of normality in relations with Russia were created. A government spokesman also stated that "the trip by the members of parliament runs counter to German interests." The Russian attacks on Ukraine had "reached a terrifying scale" and were "a 'nightmare' for the people."

The trip was met with sharp criticism within the government factions and the opposition. Marc Henrichmann (CDU), chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee, described the participation in the newspaper "Handelsblatt" as "highly risky from a security policy perspective." Russian intelligence services use such events for information gathering and recruitment. He warned: "You don't come back unobserved." He further stated that the AfD was allowing itself to be "feted by Putin's apparatus in St. Petersburg" and spoke of a "political kowtow to a war criminal."

CDU/CSU foreign policy spokesman Jürgen Hardt said on ARD's Morgenmagazin that Putin was "somewhat with his back to the wall," and "if he now gets this propaganda refresh by having business representatives and AfD politicians grovel to him in St. Petersburg, then that is counterproductive." Germany had decided to counter Russian aggression with political and economic means, "this includes the economic and political isolation of Russia. Putin feels it, the Russian economy feels it, and the war economy with which he is organizing this war against Ukraine also feels it." The presence of German business representatives in St. Petersburg was against the interests of German and European foreign policy and was "not patriotic, but very self-willed."

Criticism from the Government Factions

There was also clear criticism from the SPD. Sebastian Fiedler, domestic policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, described the AfD's participation at the invitation of circles around Putin as "highly problematic from a security policy perspective." Konstantin von Notz, deputy parliamentary group leader of the Greens, said: "The AfD does not represent German interests. It wants to make Germany an outpost of Russia."

Political scientist Wolfgang Schröder, who has been observing the AfD for a long time, said on ARD's Morgenmagazin that the party wants to maintain its relations with Russia. With regard to the upcoming state elections in East Germany, it is important for the AfD that "a significant portion in East Germany is interested in normalizing relations with Russia again, that cheap gas returns, and that overall they get a better life as a result." At the same time, he warned that it was Putin's goal to divide the West and instrumentalize groups like the AfD. Russian observers knew how strong the AfD had become in Germany. The trip jeopardized Western unity towards Russia. "It is a shame that the Bundestag is financing this trip and making this appearance possible."

Position of the AfD and Domestic Political Context

For the first time in a long time, German companies are officially participating in the economic forum this year. This step also met with criticism. Jürgen Hardt called the economic engagement on site "not patriotic, but very self-willed." He further explained on ARD's Morgenmagazin that the participation of Russian energy companies and business with Moscow ran counter to efforts to politically and economically isolate Russia.

The AfD, which is classified as far-right in parts, has condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, but according to its own statements, it does not fundamentally criticize Moscow and directs its criticism more towards the West and Ukraine itself. The party rejects support for Ukraine and repeatedly calls for the repair and recommissioning of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, citing cheap Russian gas.

Frohnmaier had traveled to the USA repeatedly in recent years; the AfD had intensively sought contacts with Washington after the re-election of US President Donald Trump. Observers interpret the trip to St. Petersburg, also against this background, as a sign of the party's independent foreign policy line, which is in stark contrast to the federal government's stance.

Significance of German Economic Participation

Reports about the trip and the reactions were broadcast on June 3, 2026, among others on Deutschlandfunk and disseminated by various news agencies. The federal government announced that it would closely monitor further developments and referred to its clear position on supporting Ukraine and isolating Russia.