AfD politician Kotré caused a stir with his appearance on the Russian propaganda talk show. Now the member of the Bundestag explains himself on Twitter.
AfD member of parliament Steffen Kotré has defended an appearance on the talk show by Russian TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. He wrote on Twitter that he would give everyone an interview. Among them are the “taz” and the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, which want to “abolish Germany”. He would also speak to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who has declared war on Russia. “I say: despite the war: diplomacy and talking to each other – use all channels”.
Several media had previously reported on the interview. Solovyov shared a recording on his Telegram channel. Kotré said on the program, among other things, that the majority of Germans were against the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine, but that the media would do everything to get the people against Russia and its leadership. Kotré wanted to capture this statement in another tweet: “By the way, I never said that the majority of Germans do not support Ukraine. But many media want to twist everything to their liking.”
AfD boss Tino Chrupalla initially did not evaluate the process in terms of content. “Each elected MP decides and is primarily responsible for the interviews to be conducted himself,” he said when asked whether the appearance had been agreed with him or the parliamentary group and party, and what he said about it.
When asked, Chrupalla also commented on an appearance with the Russian ambassador in Germany, Sergei Netschajew, on Thursday at the Seelower Höhen memorial in eastern Brandenburg. The background was the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad.
When asked how he justified his meeting with the ambassador against the background of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Chrupalla said: “Secretary of State Baerbock’s flippant statements that we are at war can and must be classified. We must de-escalate and be diplomatic shake hands. Germany is not at war with Russia.”
