Ukrainian President faces boycott, sharp criticism in German Parliament
During the speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Bundestag, deputies from the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) were absent. AfD called Zelenskyy a "beggar president," while BSW accused him of "promoting a spiral of escalation."
1:11 PM EDT, June 11, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in the German parliament. Before his speech, deputies from the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and some politicians from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) left the plenary hall.
Four out of 77 AfD deputies remained: Rainer Kraft, Joachim Wundrak, Norbert Kleinwächter, and Albrecht Glaser.
"War escalation"
BSW stated that while they condemn "Russia's war with Ukraine, which violates international law," they accused Zelenskyy of promoting "a highly dangerous spiral of escalation."
They also accused Zelenskyy of basing his policy on "open war escalation and immediate NATO involvement." BSW stated that allowing the Ukrainian president to speak in the Bundestag is a "symbol of uncritical acceptance of his demands." Wagenknecht's supporters demand that the federal government force Zelenskyy into peace talks.
AfD leaders, on the other hand, declared that their politicians did not want to listen to "a speaker in a camouflage suit" and argued that Zelenskyy's term should end. He holds office only "war and begging president," they claimed.
"Ukraine does not need a war president now, it needs a peace president who is willing to negotiate so that the dying stops and the country has a future," the leaders of Alternative for Germany conveyed.
Sharp criticism of the formations
The remaining parties in the Bundestag criticized both formations. Katja Mast, head of the Social Democratic Party of Germany's (SPD) faction said it was embarrassing and disrespectful, and the opposition was making a mockery of itself.
The far-right Alternative for Germany has declared pro-Russian views for many years. Currently, the party believes that Ukraine should start peace talks with Russia.
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is a new formation founded by breakaways from the post-communist Left (Die Linke). The formation is strongly anti-immigration, criticizes sending weapons to Ukraine, and accuses NATO of escalating the conflict.
