Moscow, June 12, 2024 — Two lawmakers from Germany’s far-right Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) party met Russian officials in Moscow this week, pushing for new EU-Russia dialogue formats despite the bloc’s sanctions regime and Moscow’s recent rejection of any diplomatic engagement. The visit comes days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared Europe a “fiend of hell” and ruled out further talks, deepening a rift between Berlin and Brussels over how to approach post-war relations with Russia.
The delegation, led by BSW co-chair Ulla Jelpke and fellow MEP Martin Sonnenschmidt, held discussions with Russian lawmakers and Kremlin-affiliated think tanks, according to German media reports citing unnamed sources close to the group. Jelpke, a long-time critic of EU sanctions, framed the trip as an effort to “break the ice” in relations, arguing that current policies had failed to achieve security in Europe. “We need a realistic approach—not one based on ideological rigidity,” Jelpke told Der Spiegel ahead of the trip, though she declined to specify whether the Kremlin had committed to any concrete steps.
The timing of the visit contrasts sharply with the European Union’s unified stance, which remains anchored in its 2022 sanctions package and a refusal to engage with Russia until it withdraws from Ukraine. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, reiterated this position in a statement on June 11, calling any deviation from sanctions a “dangerous signal” to Moscow. “The EU’s red lines are clear,” Borrell said. “Dialogue without preconditions is not an option.”
Why the BSW Visit Risks Splitting Berlin and Brussels
The BSW delegation’s trip underscores a growing divide within Germany’s political landscape over Russia policy. While Chancellor Olaf Scholz has maintained Berlin’s alignment with EU sanctions, BSW—now the third-largest party in the Bundestag—has openly challenged this approach, advocating for a “realpolitik” shift. The party’s rise in polls, fueled by opposition to Ukraine aid and criticism of NATO expansion, has forced Scholz’s government to navigate internal tensions over how to handle Russia.
Scholz’s office declined to comment on the BSW visit, but a senior SPD official told Politico that the trip “does not reflect the German government’s position.” The official added that any unilateral moves by lawmakers risked undermining EU unity—a concern echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who warned last month that “divisions in Europe only strengthen Putin’s hand.”
Lavrov’s “Fiend of Hell” Remark and the Collapse of Dialogue
Lavrov’s June 9 speech at the Valdai Club, where he dismissed Europe as a “fiend of hell” and called for an end to “hypocritical” talks, marked a dramatic escalation in Moscow’s rhetoric. The remark came after months of stalled negotiations, including a failed EU-Russia summit in June 2023 and Moscow’s suspension of its participation in the Council of Europe. Analysts at the International Crisis Group noted that Lavrov’s language mirrored Russia’s pre-2022 framing of the West as an existential threat, suggesting little appetite for compromise.
Yet the BSW delegation’s presence in Moscow indicates that some European politicians remain willing to engage, even as official channels freeze. Sonnenschmidt, the BSW MEP, told Russian state media RT that the trip was about “exploring pragmatic solutions,” though he did not elaborate on specific proposals. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether high-level officials met with the delegation, but Russian lawmakers, including Sergey Mironov of the Federation Council, praised the visit as a “step toward de-escalation.”
What Happens Next: A Test for EU Unity
The BSW visit has already triggered backlash within the EU. The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, led by David McAllister (EPP, Germany), is set to debate the incident in an emergency session on June 14. McAllister, a vocal sanctions supporter, has called for an investigation into whether the trip violated EU protocols. “If members of the European Parliament are engaging with a regime that is at war, they must do so in coordination with the institutions,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the German government is facing pressure to clarify its stance. A source in the Foreign Ministry told Reuters that Scholz’s team is “monitoring the situation closely” but has not ruled out disciplinary action against the BSW lawmakers. The party’s push for dialogue risks isolating Germany further from its EU partners, particularly as France and the Baltic states have hardened their positions against any engagement with Russia.
The next critical test will come on June 18, when the EU’s foreign affairs council meets in Brussels. Borrell is expected to reaffirm the bloc’s sanctions stance, but the BSW visit has already forced a reckoning over whether internal divisions can derail the EU’s united front. For now, the only certainty is that Moscow’s door remains closed—unless new voices in Europe are willing to knock.
