Ukraine crisis near Lanz
“It was a gesture and not a gift”
By Marko Schlichting
2/16/2022 5:04 am
Russia announces that some of its troops will be relocated to the Ukrainian border. Is Putin really interested in detente or is he cheating? The Ukrainian ambassador in Germany may not trust the signals from the Kremlin. But at least there is still a chance for diplomacy, he emphasizes to Markus Lanz.
During Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s inaugural visit to Moscow, the differences with Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be overlooked. After all, both politicians confirmed afterwards that they want to bring about a solution to the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations. How to proceed in view of the tense situation was also a topic for Markus Lanz and his guests on ZDF on Tuesday evening.
“The deduction must be closely monitored”
First of all, they agree on one point: It is not yet possible to assess objectively what the announced withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border is all about. It’s still too early. The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk in particular has his doubts. Possibly Russia will only move its troops from one end to the other. It is also possible that the soldiers moved away, but left ordnance ready for use on site so that they could be used again quickly. “The deduction has to be watched closely,” he demands.
Daniela Schwarzer sees it similarly. She is a political scientist and works for the “Open Society Foundations”, a group of foundations founded by billionaire George Soros. According to their own statements, their goal is to promote the idea of an “open society”, especially in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Among other things, they support projects to establish and maintain a free market economy. Like the FDP foreign policy expert Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Schwarzer believes that it is important to monitor carefully whether the Russian troops are really being withdrawn or just being moved. The current images continue to give cause for concern, explains Schwarzer. The troops on the Ukrainian border are still operational. The movement of some tanks did not change that. However, yesterday’s conversation between Putin and Scholz gives her hope. In contrast to similar meetings with other politicians, the press conference that followed went “quite harmoniously”.
Andrij Melnyk is also cautiously optimistic. He put it in his own way: “It’s a day that you got through alive. And for Ukraine, at least, it wasn’t a bad day.” For years, his compatriots lived in a surreal world. On the one hand there is a mixture of fear and uncertainty, but on the other hand there is also determination and fighting spirit. The people are ready to defend their homeland – by any means. “They love their country so much that they no longer want to lose their independence.”
“Embassy not well received in Kiev”
That’s why Olaf Scholz’s visit to Moscow was so important, Lambsdorff said. And he praises: Scholz spoke of the “damned duty of everyone” to maintain peace in Eastern Europe. It is particularly important for him to clarify that Ukraine cannot become a NATO member in the long term.
Melnyk doesn’t agree with that at all. It cannot be the case that every state can become a member of NATO, only Ukraine has had the door slammed in its face before then. “We want to join an alliance in which we feel safe. The other option would be to protect yourself.” In any case, the announcement by the German Chancellor was not well received in the capital Kiev.
“Ukraine is a thorn in Putin’s side,” explains Melnyk. “He wants to go down in Russian history as the second Peter the Great. Those are his delusions.” Even if the other guests on the show don’t quite agree with the word “delusions”, they basically agree with Melnyk. While an autocratic system has been established in Russia in recent years, society in Ukraine is free. That’s why Schwarzer also believes that there is no need for a military invasion of Ukraine. “Possibly it is enough for Putin that there is a ruler who looks to the East.”
“We are the screamers in the desert”
Melnyk criticizes that there have been no talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyi and Putin for a year and a half. It is therefore the duty of France and Germany to mediate diplomatically in the crisis. There are now certain signs of relaxation, and there will probably not be a war – tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. “But there is no guarantee that Putin is really counting on detente. That was a gesture today, but not a gift.”
In the event that war does break out, Melnyk calls on Germany again to supply arms. It is about defensive weapons, but also about deterrence. “The point is that this war can break out, and then Germany will not be spared either. We are the screamers in the desert to point out that the situation is very serious,” Melnyk concludes.