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SPD bigwig Sigmar Gabriel is opposed to Olaf Scholz’s Ukraine policy: he considers German troops for defense against Russia to be an option.
Berlin – In an interview with the star Sigmar Gabriel, former foreign minister and SPD leader, has made extensive comments on the war in Ukraine. When asked whether Western ground troops might be necessary in Ukraine, he replied that he would “not rule anything out” if Ukraine was in danger of losing the war against Russia.
Gabriel criticized the “strange tactic” of “always publicly informing” Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, how far they were prepared to go in the Ukraine war.
Gabriel has thus criticized Scholz’s course twice within a short period of time: After the European elections on Sunday, he said of the defeat of the SPD and the other traffic light parties that “the people are fed up with this government.” He also openly questioned whether Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken were still the right people to lead the SPD.
Criticism of Scholz’s red lines in the Ukraine war
Now Gabriel is criticizing Scholz’s red lines in the Ukraine war. Not only Gabriel, but also experts and Western allies criticized the fact that the Chancellor repeatedly and categorically rules out certain types of aid for Ukraine in its defense against Russia.
The proposal to send Western troops to Ukraine if necessary came first from French President Emmanuel MacronHe argued in February that it would be wrong to rule out such a deployment in principle, particularly with regard to deterring Russia.
Bundeswehr at war against Russia? Gabriel calls for a clear signal for Ukraine
Gabriel shares this view and explained in an interview: “Nobody wants the armed forces into a war.” But: “We need a clear signal to Putin: Stop this war – or we will take it to you,” said Gabriel, who was Foreign Minister in Angela Merkel’s government from 2017 to 2021.
He added that this could mean that German soldiers in Ukraine will help enforce no-fly zones. Such a zone was one of Ukraine’s first demands after Russia’s invasion. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out from the outset that German soldiers with German anti-aircraft missiles would be involved.
Gabriel: “Don’t promise Mr Putin again that we will never do that.”
Gabriel stressed that he would not “promise Mr Putin again that we will never do that.” If Russia were to succeed in Ukraine, this would also endanger security in Germany and Europe. “After a short period of recovery, Putin will stir up trouble elsewhere. Always happy to do so on the fringes of the EU and NATObecause he knows that it is difficult for us to react harshly there.” The SPD politician concluded: “We will have to defeat Russia again just as we did with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.”
In addition to a tougher military stance, Gabriel also calls for more intensive negotiations and talks: “In addition to the conference in Switzerland, a second peace conference is needed at which Russia’s negotiating partners meet.” This alliance against Russia should be led by China. “Germany could credibly put forward such a proposal. Then the Chancellor’s campaign poster for the European elections under the motto ‘Securing Peace’ would also be backed up by active action,” said Gabriel.
Gabriel, who knows Vladimir Putin personally from his time as foreign minister, admitted that he was one of “the politicians who were wrong about Russia and its president.” He stressed that he did not want to repeat this mistake. Today, Sigmar Gabriel is chairman of the Atlantic Bridge, an organization that forms an economic, financial, educational and military bridge between the United States and Germany. (smu)
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