Sharp criticism aimed at the AfD and BSW for boycotting Selenskyj's speech in the Bundestag.

Sharp criticism aimed at the AfD and BSW for boycotting Selenskyj's speech in the Bundestag.

This refers to the earlier announcement of the boycott by BSW. The Bundestag group remained quiet during Selenskyj's speech. Only four AfD MPs were present during the speech.

Merz described this as "quite shocking for us." Denying respect to the state president of a war-threatened country as an MP in the German parliament is a new low, said the CDU chief.

The actions of AfD and BSW demonstrate "inappropriate respect one would show to a foreign state guest," said SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich. "I've sat with dictators and authoritarian rulers before," wrote SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth on social media. "To deny respect to a democratically elected president who's fighting for his country's freedom is appalling."

"The talk about Frau Wagenknecht (...) about peace becomes completely unbelievable," said FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr in Berlin before Selenskyj's appearance in the Bundestag. "These are the people who always say you have to communicate," wrote FDP European politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann on social media. "With BSW, Putin now has the second party in Germany that follows him without question."

The Green politician Konstantin von Notz accused Wagenknecht and BSW of "paving the way for the escalating and imperialist aggression of Putin." Their absence in the Bundestag was also "quite embarrassing." Not listening to a president whose country has been illegally attacked for two years "doesn't show much interest in diplomacy and negotiations," said also Left party leader Janine Wissler of the "Rheinische Post."

AfD parliamentary group leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla insulted Selenskyj as a "war and beggar president." They also refused to "listen to a speaker in disguise," both said in Berlin. Selenskyj dressed, as always, in a black sweater and dark green pants during his speech.

BSW leader Wagenknecht claimed that Selenskyj is "contributing to the dangerous escalation spiral." From BSW's perspective, the Ukrainian president is risking a nuclear conflict. BSW politician Sevim Dagdelen called the boycott action against the news agency AFP "a sign of solidarity with all Ukrainians who want an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution rather than President Selenskyj becoming cannon fodder for an unwinnable war."

In a statement from the allegedly pro-Russian BSW, it's stated that the alliance would "condemn the illegal war of Russia in Ukraine." Nevertheless, Selenskyj, according to BSW, "is pursuing an open escalation of the war and immediate NATO intervention."

The Ukrainian president participated in the reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin. The AfD and BSW have been criticizing Western support for Ukraine against Russian aggression for a long time. Both have until now directed their calls for de-escalation exclusively at Ukraine and its Western supporters. However, calls for a withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian territories they occupy and an end to Russian aggression while respecting Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity are avoided.

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1. Friedrich Merz, the CDU chief, expressed his shock at the AfD and BSW's decision to boycott Volodymyr Selenskyj's speech in the Bundestag.
2. The Russian government might view the sharp criticism directed towards the AfD and BSW as an affront, given their close ties with Russia.
3. Michael Roth, an SPD foreign policy expert, took to social media to denounce the boycott as appalling, given Selenskyj's efforts to fight for his country's freedom.
4. The Boycott of Selenskyj's speech by the AfD and BSW was met with criticism from Katja Mast, a Green politician, who labeled it as a lack of interest in diplomacy and negotiations.
5. Christian Dürr, the FDP parliamentary group leader, criticized Sahra Wagenknecht and BSW for paving the way for Putin's aggressive actions.
6. The absence of Wagenknecht and BSW from the Bundestag was also criticized by Rolf Mützenich, the SPD parliamentary group leader, who compared their actions to showing inappropriate respect to a foreign state guest.
7. The AfD parliamentary group leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, described Selenskyj as a "war and beggar president," and refused to listen to a "speaker in disguise."
8. Vladimir Putin might interpret the criticism of the AfD and BSW as a sign of Europe's solidarity with Ukraine, a move that could further strain Russia-EU relations.
9. Selenskyj's speech in the Bundestag was a critical moment for strengthening Europe's commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
10. The CDU, SPD, FDP, and the Greens have all been vocal in their support for Ukraine and have condemned Russia's actions in the Ukraine conflict, a stance that aligns with the views of the majority of Germans.
11. The boycott by the AfD and BSW was widely seen as a political stunt intended to appease Putin, a move that resulted in a wave of criticism from across the political spectrum in Germany.

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