German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed support for Ukraine despite growing domestic pressure after the far-right, pro-Russian Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured nearly 44% of the vote in a state election.Speaking at an Arctic summit in Rovaniemi, northern Finland on Monday, Sept. 14, Merz said opposition to Berlin’s support for Kyiv had become one of the major complaints among AfD voters.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.If the Kremlin were to succeed, that would have “unpredicted and unprecedented consequences for all of us, including Germany,” Merz said, according to Bloomberg.“That’s the reason why I’m standing here very firm, very clear, and not willing to go back one centimeter.”During the summit, which brought together leaders to discuss security along Europe’s northern flank as Russia continues to expand its military presence in the Arctic, Merz said EU member states could not separate urgent security concerns from domestic political pressures.His comments came as the AfD – which called for an end to German support for Ukraine, simultaneously calling for revival of relations with Moscow – emerged as the largest political force in the state.Merz rules out cooperation with AfD“I will not deviate by even a millimetre from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom, especially now, against Russia,” he said on Sept. 7, according to Reuters, adding that “the situation will not improve by tomorrow, it will only get worse” if Germany stopped supporting Ukraine.