Anyone who gives up on Russia’s imperial aspirations is not just giving up on Ukraine. It also puts at risk the foundations of our freedom and prosperity.
An article appeared in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” on the Day of German Unity. Your topic is not a united Germany – but Russia. The two Prime Ministers Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Dietmar Woidke (SPD) as well as the would-be Prime Minister Mario Voigt (CDU) wind their way through a call in a state-supporting tone that is interspersed with commitments to the EU, NATO and a “rules-based international order”. is.
Essentially, however, the three are interested in finally putting an end to Ukraine’s resistance and defense against the Russian aggressor. , the text says. Germany and the EU had pursued the path to negotiations “too indecisively”.
Application letter for Wagenknecht
Now, on the one hand, the text can of course be understood as a letter of application for cooperation with the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), whose namesake made a noise in Berlin on the same day. The Instant Party of the GDR nostalgic Wagenknecht plays a decisive role in coalition formation in the states of the three comment writers. And it has made its cooperation dependent on the future state governments speaking out against aid to Ukraine and the stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany (which is not their responsibility at all). It will be interesting to see whether this half-executed kneeling is enough for Wagenknecht.
However, hidden in the guest article by the three politicians are formulations that show that this is not just about opportunism, it is partly based on real convictions. It is somewhat cryptically pointed out that the “economic strength” of Germany and Europe could be a lever for negotiations with Russia – which is probably best understood as saying that the Kremlin should be given the prospect of easing the economic sanctions. The fact that the USA and Europe have cut down economic relations with Russia has long been a thorn in the side of many in the East.
When the vodka was still circulating
You are by no means alone: even among West Germans in the SPD, in the so-called peace movement, among Berlin media entrepreneurs and of course in the AfD, which is partly right-wing extremist, people believe it is wrong or unnecessary to stand up to Russia. Both with weapons and with sanctions. The voices calling for people to stop supporting Ukraine have been getting louder and more numerous for months. It’s easy to plead for “peace” in warm words when you realize that you can appeal to frightened voters. It was so cozy when the gas was still flowing, the deals were still flowing and the vodka was still circulating.
But here we see the fundamental error in thinking that underlies the entire ceasefire debate: a diplomatic solution, negotiations, and peace talks presuppose that the other side has even the slightest interest in it. That there is fundamentally a common basis.
But nothing of that can be seen. As soon as it became clear at the beginning of October that Chancellor Olaf Scholz was considering a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Moscow announced that it was looking forward to it. A full broadside from the Kremlin spokesman. While diplomacy and negotiations are being called for in the USA and Europe and societies are falling apart over this issue, Putin is simply sitting there and continuing to wage a murderous war. In the east of Ukraine, with rockets on Kiev and with terror against the civilian population and the infrastructure. The statements coming from Moscow convey unbridled imperialism, the will to destroy and the determination to subjugate Ukraine – and then some. There is nothing “rule-based” here.
Russia violates all treaties
The comment by the three politicians provides a clear example of this. Kretschmer, Woidke and Voigt advocate negotiations “in the spirit of the Budapest Memorandum”. This 1994 agreement required Ukraine to give up its remaining Soviet nuclear weapons. In return, the country received security guarantees and the promise that its sovereignty would be respected – including by Russia. By 2022 at the latest, but actually as early as 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea, it became clear that this document was not worth the paper it was printed on. The Kremlin has violated the memorandum as well as all other treaties it has signed that guarantee Ukraine and other states the inviolability of their borders.
It is the crucial reason why Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltics and others wanted to join NATO so urgently: it was the only way to get reasonably reliable protection against Russian aggression. Contrary to what the carmen claimed, it was never about NATO’s desire to “expand” and certainly not about threatening gestures towards Moscow, but rather about the fear of Eastern and Central Europeans of Russian imperialism. And as it turns out, that fear was entirely justified.
It doesn’t work without defense
Countering this aggression and remaining steadfast is the basic prerequisite for the way of life that we have been able to get used to in Europe. It is also the basis for the economic prosperity that Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia have experienced in recent decades. The growth, well-being and freedom that we enjoy only work in combination with the willingness to defend them when there is no other option.
It is difficult to accept this – and it is even understandable when post-war Germans who grew up in decades of peace struggle with this: But today’s Russia does not see itself as a partner in a European peace order among democratic states. It sees itself as their wrecking ball, by any means necessary. Russia is waging war in Ukraine. It cut its gas supplies even before the current phase of the war of aggression in order to put pressure on Europe.
Russia bombed Syrian cities without any consideration and thus contributed to the wave of refugees that the AfD still feeds on today. With the support of its Belarusian vassal, Russia staged a refugee crisis on the Polish border – even before the current war – in order to spread uncertainty to the important EU state.
Russia cooperates with everyone who rejects democracy and freedom: with the Iranian regime, with North Korea, with China, with Venezuela, with left- and right-wing extremists in Europe and the USA. In Russian schools and fed lies about key parts of European history.
This country is not part of the solution at the moment, but rather the cause of many problems. As unfortunate as that is, one can only understand it as an enemy for years to come. Of course, one thing is clear: you have to negotiate with an opponent at some point. But not from a kneeling position. But from a situation in which this opponent sees himself forced to do so.
Source: Stern
