German former foreign minister: Do not rule out Ukraine air defense
Published: Wednesday, Jun 12th 2024, 00:40
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In view of the difficult situation in Ukraine, Germany's former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has called for a tougher stance towards Russia - he is against ruling out the deployment of German soldiers for air defense, for example, from the outset.
"We need to send a clear signal to Putin: stop this war - or we'll take it to you. If that means that German missile defence systems enforce no-fly zones in Ukraine with the help of the Bundeswehr in order to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks on the civilian population, I would not promise Mr Putin again that we will never do that," the former SPD chairman told Stern magazine.
"Nobody wants to have to lead the Bundeswehr into a war. But if the danger grows that Ukraine will lose, then that will also destroy our previous life in peace and security in Europe. After a short period of recovery, Putin will ignite elsewhere," explained Gabriel. "It is a war against us." And with regard to Putin: "He only reacts to toughness and strength. And at the moment he believes we are weak and afraid."
Gabriel: Further peace conference necessary
However, there can be no victory over Russia as a nuclear power. According to Gabriel, a kind of dual strategy is also needed to end the war: "Confront Putin with our iron foot and at the same time look for formats for talks and thus for ways out of the war."
This also includes another peace conference. "In addition to the conference in Switzerland, there needs to be a second peace conference at which Russia's interlocutors meet." This Russia alliance should be led by China. "Germany could credibly put forward such a proposal. Then the Chancellor's election poster for the European elections under the motto 'Securing peace' would also be backed up by active action," said Gabriel, who is now Chairman of the German-American Atlantic Bridge.
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