Don’t underestimate your own role
Steinmeier criticizes prejudice in the Ukraine crisis
2/13/2022, 6:54 p.m
Steinmeier warns that the Ukraine conflict must not escalate further. In the ntv interview, the re-elected head of state emphasized that Germany is committed to Kiev. In this country he expects new social ordeals – and reveals who from the Federal Assembly he would like to go out to eat with.
With 73.3 percent of the votes, Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected as German President by the Federal Assembly today. In an interview with RTL/ntv, the old and new Federal President emphasized that there was “a risk of a military conflict on the border between Russia and Ukraine”. At the same time, you have to be aware of this danger and “do everything you can to ensure that it doesn’t escalate.” “I’m really grateful to the capitals Berlin, Paris and Washington for doing everything possible to prevent the worst from happening,” said Steinmeier.
At the same time, Steinmeier emphasized the role of the Federal Republic in the Ukraine conflict. “We must not completely underestimate our own role. In Ukraine, people know that Germany has never been indifferent to Ukraine. The Minsk agreements and the creation of the Normandy format – I think the prejudice that Germany is not doing enough for Ukraine, is a prejudice that needs to be checked.”
When asked whether climate protection could lead to a further division in society, Steinmeier said: “I fear that this type of protest, which is directed against democracy and decision-making processes, will not end with the end of the pandemic, that the “Organizations are looking for new issues, including new fears that exist in society, to exploit for their own ends. This could indeed include fighting climate change or taking action on climate change.”
Regarding climate activists who regularly block freeways as part of their protests, Steinmeier said he wasn’t sure to what extent the activists would use their own goals. “We have enough legitimate forms of protest in Germany. The civil disobedience that people invoke is nothing new. But it needs to be pointed out that Article 8 of the Basic Law, freedom of assembly, has a very broad scope of protection, but does not establish impunity. Also Criminal offenses can be committed during demonstrations and those who engage in civil disobedience must be prepared for such offenses to be prosecuted.”
Finally, Frank-Walter Steinmeier revealed who from the Federal Assembly he would most like to meet for dinner: “This is someone who has made a journey that I have been denied in the past and which I will not make in the next five years , namely into orbit. Someone who has seen the wounds we have already inflicted on our earth. I would like to meet Alexander Gerst for dinner and, when Matthias Maurer is back, we will take him with us.”