After Kremlin chief Putin’s speech on May 9, German politicians once again swear to support Ukraine in the cruel war. At the same time, it is clear that the dispute could go on for a long time.
After her return from Ukraine, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas spoke out in favor of the country, which had been attacked by Russia, joining the EU soon.
The SPD politician said on ZDF that, unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, she hopes “that it won’t take decades”. Of course, other countries were also waiting for membership in the European Union. However, procedures and timetables would have to be accelerated in such a way that a “real perspective” would result.
Bas had visited Ukraine over the weekend. She told broadcaster RTL that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had made it clear that he wanted EU accession to be accelerated. In June, the EU Commission wants to assess whether Ukraine can become an official candidate for EU membership. A positive decision would still require the consent of all EU countries. Only then could accession negotiations begin. Zelenskyy said on Monday evening that he hopes that Ukraine will be granted candidate country status as early as June.
Bas: Putin’s speech is no reason for relief
The speech by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin on the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, in which, contrary to what some observers expected, he did not announce a general mobilization, is no reason for relief – neither here nor in Ukraine, Bas said in the ZDF “heute journal”. Other German politicians also reacted with restraint to the Kremlin chief’s statements. The CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen told the editorial network Germany that with his claim that the “special operation” would forestall an invasion of Russia by NATO, Putin could now announce “success” at any time – namely that he was able to fend off this never-threatening attack.
Putin made it clear that he wanted to “wipe Ukraine off the map,” said the chair of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), in an ARD “Focus”. Germany and the West must therefore be “strong and willing to defend themselves” to defend democracy. Former NATO general Egon Ramms emphasized in the ZDF “heute journal” that from his point of view the anniversary celebration in Moscow took place “with slowed foam” compared to previous productions. Like Strack-Zimmermann, however, he fears that the dispute will continue for a long time.
CDU foreign affairs expert Roderich Kiesewetter, who traveled to Ukraine with party leader Friedrich Merz, expects more civilian casualties in the country than previously known. “The information (…) varies between over 3,000 and up to 250,000,” said Kiesewetter of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. “It will take years to verify the true numbers, as many victims are still missing under rubble and mass graves continue to be discovered.”
Source: Stern
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