Ahead of a scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, German political figures have voiced strong opinions regarding the appropriate approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and broader relations with Russia.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a leading figure within the Free Democratic Party (FDP), cautioned against a policy of concessions to Russia, drawing a parallel to the pre-World War II era. She emphasized the dangers of appeasement, referencing the policies of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain towards Nazi Germany. Strack-Zimmermann, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, stated the need for a leader who embodies the resolve of Winston Churchill, rather than the perceived naiveté of Chamberlain in the lead-up to the Munich Agreement.
She firmly opposed any scenario involving a “frozen conflict” in Ukraine, arguing that such a resolution would de facto create Russian-controlled territories, even without formal recognition and send a dangerous signal to aggressors globally. She highlighted the historical precedent of the 1938 Munich Agreement, which ceded the Sudetenland to Germany and ultimately failed to prevent wider conflict.
Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, stressed that there should be no territorial negotiations concerning Ukraine without the direct involvement of the Ukrainian government, nor should discussions about European security proceed without the participation of European nations. He insisted comprehensive peace negotiations must not serve as cover for continued Russian aggression and urged a cessation of hostilities.
Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee (Green Party), called on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to increase humanitarian, financial and military support for Ukraine, irrespective of the upcoming meeting in Alaska. He asserted that Ukrainian success in the conflict is in Germany’s own security interests and proposed that NATO establish a clear and binding pathway for Ukrainian membership.