AfD's Alice Weidel urges quick Ukraine talks and a return to cheap Russian energy
Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), is calling for swift talks on the war in Ukraine and a return to cheap Russian energy. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says sanctions on Russian energy will remain in place.
Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is urging rapid negotiations on the war in Ukraine and a return to inexpensive Russian energy, Politico Europe reports. The stance runs against current European Union policy, which relies on sanctions in the area of Russian energy.
The Commission's response
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently stressed that sanctions on Russian energy will stay, despite a US deal on diesel. She warned that "Russia is not a trusted supplier of energy." The Commission is the EU's executive arm.
AfD's plans for the EU
On 20 October it was reported that Weidel intended to present her party's ideas for the EU at the European Parliament, including a plan to downsize the bloc. The source does not set out the details of those proposals.
A related investigation
Separately, a prosecutor has searched the offices of a far-right group in the European Parliament. The searches are part of an investigation into allegations of mismanagement of funds by the now-defunct Identity and Democracy (ID) group. The source does not say this case is directly linked to the AfD leader's statements.
Weidel's appeal highlights how differently the route to peace in Ukraine and relations with Russian energy supplies are viewed in European capitals and in Brussels.
