Europe has no decisive role to play in resolving the risk of war, according to former Federal Foreign Minister and former SPD president Sigmar Gabriel.
Asked by Bild if Gabriel had enough protection for Ukraine, Gabriel said: “The federal government – like all other European members of NATO and the EU – is involved in all US efforts to conflict reduction ”.
“However,” said the former German foreign minister, “we Europeans have to admit that we do not play a really decisive role in resolving the threat of war. Once again, we are dependent on the United States. “From Russia’s point of view, Europe does not matter because in 1945, 1989 and 1997 the Soviet Union and later Russia always negotiated with the United States for the fate of Europe.”
The German politician added: “From the Russian point of view, it should remain so. And we Europeans are doing everything we can to confirm it, because we are divided and we are afraid. For us Europeans, this is a sign of poverty. And who will help us?” to say that the next US President will still be ready to look after European interests? ”
These statements are quite significant, as according to information from Spiegel, ruling SPD leader Lars Klingbaile calls on top Social Democrats, including parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich and former party leader Martin Schultz, in a confidential, closed-door meeting Monday.
The purpose of the meeting, according to Spiegel, is said to be the SPD to weigh a new European Ostpolitik and reconcile the two internal party camps, on the one hand the “embrace with Putin” and on the other the tough stance towards Russia.
Asked if the US was taking Germany seriously, Gabriel said: “The US has long looked much more towards the Indo-Pacific than the Atlantic. The question is: where is the European Union, which it supposedly wanted to be?” “Sovereign” and “geopolitical factor”? We disagree with the assessment of the situation in Ukraine, we fear for our financial interests and we are glad that others are taking the hot potatoes out of the fire for us. We Europeans must learn to take our interests into our own hands. “, he stressed.
Regarding the role to be played by Berlin and Paris, the former German Foreign Minister said that “now they have to play their leading role. If possible, always in cooperation with the United States, but only if necessary. To do this, “But we have to show that we value peace. Anyone who breaks the peace in Europe must know that they have to pay a high price. At the moment, we are leaving the price of war in Europe to the Americans. I am ashamed of it.”
Asked if German weapons could help control Putin, Gabriel said: “The question is different: does Ukraine have the right to defend itself against a possible military attack? The answer is yes! So we want to help Ukraine. We Germans are actually against arms deliveries in crisis areas for a good reason, because we are worried that this will fuel the conflict instead of pacifying it, but we have already made different decisions: for example with the Kurdish units in Iraq to stop The truth is that there is always something to be found guilty of in arms missions – from action and inaction, what we need now in Ukraine is a taboo-free debate and a ban on thinking in public and in the Bundestag. intervention “, he noted.
Asked about Germany’s hesitant stance – which has been widely criticized by the United States in particular – the former German foreign minister said: “Germany should not allow any ambiguity. I’m sure the federal government knows this.”
Regarding Nord Stream 2, Gabriel stressed that “everyone knows that Russia’s military attacks on Ukraine would be the death knell for Nord Stream 2. But if one wants to negotiate with Russia, then one must leave as long as as much as possible on the table and “bury” as little as possible in advance. ”
He expressed hope that there would be no war in Ukraine, as “all the efforts of the US, NATO and Europe are aimed at preventing this very war in the middle of Europe. But if we are honest, then we must admit that here For years, the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, in which Russia is involved, has not stopped, and what is needed there is a UN international peacekeeping mission that will strongly enforce a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and an end to all violence. “There – if necessary with weapons. There have been proposals, but never any serious discussion about it.”
Read also:
-Germany: A new Ostpolitik from the SPD in the works?
-Germany: Christian Democrats fire on Schroeder over his “pro-Russian” stance
Source: Capital
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