Dispute over Russia sanctions: Haßelmann: Merz has to end “Russia-Connection” in CDU

The deputy CDU boss Michael Kretschmer criticized Germany’s categorical no to relax the Russia sanctions and thus caused outrage among the Greens. The Green Group leader Britta Haßelmann called the Saxon Prime Minister a “Putin friend” and asked CDU chairman Friedrich Merz to “handle the Moscow Connection as soon as possible”.

At the Ukraine summit in Paris, the executive Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European heads of government clearly spoke out against the sanctions imposed by Moscow on Thursday, which was required by Moscow due to the war. Scholz had said that such a step would be a “serious mistake”.

Kretschmer: Sanction regime “completely fell out of time”

Kretschmer said in an interview by the German Press Agency: “This fell from time and doesn’t suit what the Americans are doing.” If you notice “that you weaken yourself more than the other person, then you have to think about whether it is all right.”

The CDU politician criticized that in Germany there is no debate about the relaxation of the sanctions. “The constant discussion about which of these sanctions may be much more disadvantage for us than it has in Russia, it must be possible,” he said. “But it doesn’t take place.”

Haßelmann throws Kretschmer porridge with Putin

Haßelmann reacted outraged. “While Putin continues to throw bombs on Ukraine, Prime Minister Kretschmer resolves the war driver again,” she told the dpa.

“Putin-Freunde” such as Kretschmer, the CDU member of the Bundestag Thomas Bareiß or the deputy CDU parliamentary group leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, Jan Heinisch, and her Russia course should not play any role in the coalition negotiations. “Friedrich Merz and the top of the CDU can no longer duck away and have to finally take a clear position to revive the Moscow Connection. The time to spoil the topic over.”

Other expressions of Russia from CDU caused a sensation

Like Merz, Kretschmer is one of the ten Union members in the central negotiation group of coalition talks with the SPD. Bareiß and Heinisch are in specialist working groups – Bareiß in the infrastructure, Heinisch in the for energy. Both had noticed statements about Russia during the negotiations.

Heinisch had said “Politico”: “If one day a fair and safe peace is found, then you have to be able to talk about the purchase of Russian gas again”. Bareiß had written to rumors about a reactivation of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2 on LinkedIn: If peace prevailed again, the relationships normalized, the Embargos would go back sooner or later, “of course gas can flow again, maybe this time in a pipeline under American (sic) control”. This is a decision of the market.

Taurus discussion for Kretschmer ended

Kretschmer also took a different attitude on a different point than his party leader Merz. A delivery of Taurus marching aircraft to Ukraine is no longer an issue for him. “I don’t think that’s the right way and frankly the discussion is over,” he said. He referred to the ongoing negotiations on the end of the war. “This time has gone away.”

Scholz had always rejected the delivery of the Taurus rockets with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine. CDU boss Merz, on the other hand, has generally agreed to make it available to Ukraine in coordination with the allies if necessary.

CDU-Vice can imagine conversation between Merz and Putin

The Saxon Prime Minister can also imagine that Merz will speak to the Russian President Vladimir Putin as a chancellor. “That will definitely be,” he said. However, this question had to be about what you can achieve. “Why should the Russian president speak to us?” Asked Kretschmer in this context. “What does Germany have to offer? What can Germany move?” You have to work out again this position.