MEP Markus Buchheit of Germany belongs to the far-right party Alternative for Germany. His remarks about Ukraine and Russia have led some observers to be concerned that he might support Russia.
Buchheit has been very vocal in criticizing EU policies, particularly those concerning sanctions against Russia. He urged the EU to reassess its strategy, claiming that the sanctions harm European economies and that a more conciliatory approach should be taken toward Russia.
He voted against the EU Parliament resolution on new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the European Union. Moreover, he abstained from voting on the EU Parliament resolution on additional measures to address the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism reinforcement, the reduction in payment appropriations, and the update of revenues, as well as other adjustments and technical updates.
As a member of the AfD, which has historically been critical of military support for Ukraine and has called for dialogue with Russia, Buchheit’s views align with a broader party narrative that could be interpreted as pro-Russian or at least ambivalent towards Ukrainian sovereignty. Also, In recent parliamentary sessions, Buchheit has focused on issues such as environmental regulations rather than directly addressing the conflict in Ukraine, which may reflect a strategic choice to avoid alienating voters who support Ukraine.
In his interview with the portal of Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR, the politician stated that the Alternative for Germany party would not have imposed sanctions against Russia, as Germany was impacted by them more than Moscow does. The MEP also remarked on Germany’s arms supplies to Ukraine, stating, “I do not think this decision is good. Of course, this is a complicated issue, but we would not have supplied weapons to Ukraine.”
