Danger of war in Eastern Europe
Gabriel: Defend peace with harshness
01/29/2022 11:24 am
Ex-Foreign Minister Gabriel calls on the West to show a tough stance in the Ukraine conflict. This crisis cannot simply be “de-escalated away”. Gabriel also makes a clear statement about the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline: “In the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 is done.”
On the issue of German arms supplies to Ukraine, former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has called for “a more honest and broader debate” in Germany. Many are making it a bit too easy for themselves at the moment, the former SPD leader told the editorial network Germany (RND).
On closer inspection, the matter is politically, militarily and ethically quite complicated. “Of course arms deliveries are not a solution,” said Gabriel. At the same time, he added: “What do we achieve when we stand idly by while someone threatens their neighbor with military force and possibly uses it? In the end, this is an invitation to the attacker to do it again and again.”
The principle of not sending weapons to areas of tension remains correct. But as early as 2014, the federal government made an exception to help Kurds in Iraq with arms deliveries. With a view to Ukraine, Gabriel advised an open debate on the topic in the Bundestag: “That’s where it belongs.” In any case, weapons deliveries should not be decided “behind the scenes” in the end.
The ex-foreign minister also put the controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline up for grabs: “Everyone knows that in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will be gone.” According to Gabriel’s assumption, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also sees it that way.
“The crisis cannot be ‘de-escalated away'”
Gabriel described Russia’s behavior as an attempt “to mark zones of influence through military threats and to turn back the history of the last 30 years”. He keeps hearing calls for dialogue, Gabriel continues. “But this crisis cannot simply be ‘de-escalated’. The West is not unwilling to engage in dialogue, it is unwilling to defend the peace vigorously.”
Gabriel went on to say that not only Russia, but also Ukraine experienced untold suffering in World War II. “So we don’t just have a special responsibility from history towards Moscow.”
According to Gabriel, one lesson learned from 1945 was that Germany should never act alone again. “Anyone who has an interest in the European Union staying together shouldn’t be allowed to go it alone in the direction of Moscow – even if the Russian side is currently trying everything to break us out of the community of western states.” If Berlin goes it alone, Europe will break up. “We would be burdened with historical guilt, a guilt of immense importance.”
According to Western sources, Russia has more than 100,000 soldiers stationed near Ukraine. West warns Moscow against attack; the Kremlin rejects invasion plans and accuses the West of “anti-Russian hysteria”.