Advisories coming out of Moscow, along with the suggestion that former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder should take on a mediating role, have divided reactions across German political parties. Representatives from the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, Left Party, BSW, and AfD expressed a mix of open support and pointed criticism, while the federal government remained cautious, according to “Welt”.
Within the CDU political faction, Norbert Röttgen interpreted Putin’s claim that the war is drawing to a close as evidence that Russia is facing massive pressure, both militarily and politically. He noted that the costs of the conflict are increasingly hitting Russia, a situation compounded by Ukraine’s ability to conduct attacks on Russian territory. However, whether Putin’s statements are a tactical maneuver to calm the domestic population or mark a true turning point remains unassessable.
The SPD’s stance is similarly divided regarding the suitability of Schröder as a mediator. Adis Ahmetovic, the party’s foreign policy spokesperson, stressed that any serious possibility for peaceful diplomatic breakthroughs must be thoroughly examined, requiring close coordination with Ukraine and European partners.
Critique was strongest from the Green Party. Agnieszka Brugger, Deputy Parliamentary Group Chairwoman, warned that the propaganda can no longer sustain itself. She argued that the combination of heavy losses, failure to achieve military objectives, Ukrainian attacks, economic hardship, and growing discontent in Russia is putting Putin under intense strain. “One should not look at words, but rather at what actions matter” she stated, adding that the recent attacks had fully exposed the mediation offer as merely a “rhetorical maneuver”.
The Left Party, meanwhile, demanded that Berlin take a greater initiative. Parliamentary Group Chair Sören Pellmann criticized the lack of leadership, pointing out that since taking office, Chancellor Merz has not presented his own peace framework. He argued that instead of leading, Berlin is merely reacting to the positions of Trump and Putin. The party advocates for an independent German initiative for a verifiable ceasefire and a negotiation framework that also includes non-Western actors.
In contrast, the AfD views Putin’s statements as a positive signal. Foreign Policy Spokesman Markus Frohnmaier told “Welt” that this constitutes “hope” for a swift end to the conflict. He urged the federal government to leverage its full capacity to support this initiative and to exert influence on President Zelenskyy to enable immediate, direct talks with Russia.
Notwithstanding the heated political debates in Berlin, fighting continues between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of violating the agreed-upon ceasefire.