Even if, for understandable reasons, there is no longer trust in the current Russian leadership, diplomatic talks must still be possible, according to a draft position paper of the SPD, the largest of the three parties in the ruling coalition in Germany, which was received by dpa. Meanwhile, the vice-chancellor of the co-ruling Green party, Robert Habeck, stated in the context of the Polish promise to supply Ukraine with Leopard tanks that “Germany should not stand in the way when other countries decide to support Ukraine.”
“Even if, for understandable reasons, there is no longer trust in the current Russian leadership, diplomatic talks must still be possible, so further phone calls from Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the Russian president Vladimir Putin are right and necessary, and where possible, diplomatic initiatives should be undertaken SPD.
“We must continue to make every attempt at persuasion Russia to withdraw (from the conflict – ed.)” – added SPD politicians.
Olaf ScholzPAP/EPA/CLEMENS BALANCE
The nine-page document, entitled “Social Democratic International Policy in Changing Times”, indicates that negotiations with Russia have been successful in “small sub-areas”, such as grain exports via the Black Sea. Therefore, further attempts at negotiations should also concern military areas or armaments.
As emphasized by the portal of the Welt daily, the Ukrainian authorities are skeptical about diplomatic initiatives and see no point in negotiating with Russia until all its troops are withdrawn from Ukrainian territory, including the Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014.
“Policy of small steps” to rebuild trust in Russia “in the long run”
The authors of the document “in the long term” envision rebuilding trust in Russia, and the condition would be an earlier “fundamental end to the Russian criminal aggression against Ukraine and the expansionist ideology behind it.” Diplomatic measures and a “policy of small steps” would be effective here.
The SPD’s policy towards Russia before the outbreak war in Ukraine has been heavily criticized in recent months. In the SPD election program for 2021 there is still the phrase: Peace in Europe cannot exist against Russia, but only with Russia.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil admitted in October that his party had made mistakes in its policy towards Russia over the past several decades. “Today it’s about organizing security against Russia, which has left the system of common security and the common system of values,” Klingbeil said.
The new draft of the SPD position admits that Russia is behaving aggressively, but will remain a large country with significant military power on the European continent. “This will be important for the design of the European security architecture in the long term,” the SPD said in the document. “The parliamentary group maintains that the draft of such a position has been agreed with the leadership of the party,” Welt learns.
On Wednesday evening, the Ukrainian deputy foreign minister reacted Andriy Melnyk. “Wars are almost always decided on the battlefield. Germany should know that,” the former ambassador to Berlin tweeted.
Habeck: Germany should not stand in the way when other countries want to support Ukraine
Robert Habeck, Minister of Economy and Vice-Chancellor of the Green Party, on Thursday in Berlin strongly advocated that Germany should not block Polish deliveries of Leopards to Ukraine. – There is a difference between making decisions for yourself and preventing others from making decisions. And that is why Germany should not stand in the way when other countries decide to support Ukraine, regardless of what decision Germany takes, explained the Vice-Chancellor.
So far, the decision to supply battle tanks to Ukraine has been consistently rejected by the federal government, emphasizes the Welt daily, recalling that On Wednesday, Poland announced its willingness to hand over a company of Leopards to Ukraineand since the Leopard is manufactured in Germany, further export requires federal government approval.
Main photo source: Shutterstock