More restraint is needed in the public debate about arms deliveries to Ukraine, says SPD MP Ralf Stegner, because “in the meantime, people are almost only talking about arms and not about diplomacy.”
“It needs a few more sentences that end with question marks and not with exclamation marks,” says Ralf Stegner in the 458th episode “important today”. The SPD politician is in favor of supporting Ukraine, economically, politically – and also militarily.
But he also says: “We want to limit the war, we don’t want NATO or Germany to become a war party.” And he laments the demands for more and more heavy weapons. “Because it is subject to assumptions that do not have to be true,” he says in the podcast. For example, that the tank deliveries would end the war faster. However, that is not at all certain.
“There are no clean wars”
The public debate is particularly irritating, says Ralf Stegner: “We know that we have 100,000 national coaches and virologists in Germany – that was funny, but now people are talking about weapons who have no idea about it.” He is also not a military expert and does not dare to judge that, says Stegner in an interview with “today important” host Michel Abdollahi.
“All I know is that narrowing it down to military logic is dangerous.” In the end, wars benefited those who sold arms. And it hits the civilian population and soldiers. “There are no clean wars.”
Ralf Stegner: “The language in the debate is now completely militarized”
Ralf Stegner says that the language used in the debate about the arms deliveries is now completely militarized. “There are almost childish demands like ‘Free the Leopards’ as if it’s about freeing zoo animals. We’re talking about guns that kill a hundred people from five kilometers away.”
The SPD MP also finds all these statements that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is too hesitant wrong. “On the contrary: When it comes to war and peace, you should be particularly prudent and look for other ways.” Stegner is certain that the chancellor and the SPD-led government will not allow Germany to become a war party.
One should not evade military action – if only out of historical responsibility – but also not lead the way. “My generation is the first in Germany to grow up in peace, and we have an obligation to keep it that way,” says Ralf Stegner at “today important”. “The goal must be that the war ends.”
Your subscription to “important today”
Don’t miss an episode of “today important” and subscribe to our podcast at: , , , , or in your favorite podcast app. If you have any questions or suggestions, please write to us.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
