AfD and BSW: How close are they to Russia?

The state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt voted to demand the immediate cessation of all German financial and military aid to Ukraine. This resolution was passed during a special session with the combined votes of the far-right Alternative for Germany party and the newly elected Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason. Both parties urged the acting prime minister, Christian Democrat Sven Schulze, to advocate for peace negotiations with Russia within the Federal Council, which represents the sixteen German states. Although federal states lack specific authority over foreign policy, the motion carries no direct impact on national Ukraine strategy. The vote occurred against the backdrop of ongoing coalition talks following the September 2026 election. The AfD secured a clear victory with nearly forty-four percent of the vote but failed to achieve an absolute majority in the new legislature. Consequently, the party requires support from other groups to form a government. All other political parties refuse to cooperate with the AfD because security authorities have classified it as confirmed right-extremist. The Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason entered the Magdeburg parliament with just over five percent of the vote. It is currently the only party willing to engage in official discussions with the AfD. Critics from opposing factions condemned the move sharply. Stefan Ruland, a member of the Christian Democratic Union, described the proposal as shameful. He argued that demanding a ceasefire solely from the attacked party constitutes a demand for capitulation rather than peace. Ruland stated this approach reverses the roles of victim and perpetrator. Another critic, Mützenich, labeled the initiative shameless. Observers view the joint decision as a signal of long-term cooperation between two ideologically distinct groups. Political scientist Armin Pfahl-Traughber noted that their common ground includes rejecting the political elite, supporting Putin, and criticizing German aid to Ukraine. The Alliance split from the Left Party in 2024. Its founder, Sahra Wagenknecht, previously served as a prominent representative of the Communist Platform within the Left Party, a group known for its proximity to Russia. Her conservative social policies and criticism of migration eventually led to her departure and the creation of the new party. Sympathy for Vladimir Putin has been expressed repeatedly by AfD politicians. Björn Höcke, the influential party leader in Thuringia, called the Russian president a pioneer for a world of free and sovereign states in 2023. This statement came one year after Russia launched its offensive war against Ukraine. Relations between the two parties gained attention in early October 2026 when representatives met for a trust-building dinner in Saxony-Anhalt. The gathering was hosted by a right-extremist publishing house.