In her second Sunday evening talk show on ARD, presenter Caren Miosga has a special interview partner. She speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He is talking to Chancellor Scholz about Taurus, and he is not afraid of a Trump election victory.
She succeeded in the coup. Caren Miosga traveled to the Ukrainian capital Kiev for her Sunday evening talk show on Erste. She met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky there last Wednesday. The full interview can be seen on YouTube and in the ARD media library, but the most important excerpts will be shown on Sunday evening and rated by the guests. Miosga is in her element: she appears relaxed and confident, with no trace of insecurity. Zelenskyj is friendly, laughs, and is clearly enjoying the conversation. And he doesn’t seem nearly as aggressive as he sometimes comes across in his video messages. For example, when he talks about the Taurus cruise missiles, which Ukraine has been waiting for for more than half a year.
He can’t talk about everything, he says, and it seems as if there might be a few conversations going on in the background that the public would be better off not knowing about. Perhaps this even applies to SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, who defends the federal government’s decision. “The truth is that we often deliver so much that we often go beyond the limits,” says Klingbeil. Germany will provide aid worth 7.5 billion euros, which will be decided this week during budget negotiations in the Bundestag. Nevertheless, the federal government has not yet decided to deliver the Taurus cruise missiles. But you have to be aware of one thing: “If you don’t stop Putin, then it could be that the Baltic states, Poland, other states like Finland could be next.” Klingbeil couldn’t say anything about a possible ring swap in which Germany would deliver Taurus cruise missiles to England and England would deliver similar weapons to Ukraine. He doesn’t know anything about it.
“I’m disappointed with German politics”
“We both talk about it,” says Zelenskyj when Miosga asks him about the Taurus and Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s reaction. Although the Bundestag has also spoken out in favor of delivering the cruise missiles, Scholz is hesitant. “I hope that there will be another decision,” says Zelensky. It’s not about one weapon or the other, it’s not about the position of the Federal Chancellor or the Bundestag. “Either you believe that Ukraine is right and that Russia should be put in its place. And then you have 1 2 3 4 5 steps that you believe you have to take in order to strengthen Ukraine,” says Zelensky. And further: “What I want to say: The disbelief of one person or another, the disbelief of one minister or another will be very costly.”
In a conversation with Caren Miosga, Selenskyj shows understanding for Chancellor Scholz’s hesitation on the cruise missile issue. But he seems a little bitter when he explains: “This question is not his personal concern.” It’s not just about Scholz, but about the leaders of Europe and the USA. “I’m just disappointed that people in today’s world are more pragmatic and they don’t immediately step in when faced with one challenge or another.”
Germany did not play the role it should have when Russia first occupied Ukraine in 2014. That’s why it’s not Scholz that he’s disappointed with, but with German politics. “And I’ll tell you quite openly: This isn’t just about Olaf, it’s not just about Germany, it’s about strong leaders on different continents. And we know: Strong is the one who has a strong economy. Because countries with… “A strong economy also has a strong army, a strong influence. We know these countries, we can count them on one hand. And they have done next to nothing to prevent a major war of aggression.”
“If Trump ensures peace, I’ll be happy”
The USA is obviously one of the countries criticized by Zelensky for their policies before 2022. A new president will be elected there on November 5th. According to surveys, the Republican Donald Trump could be elected US President again this year after 2016. He announced on Fox News last year that he wanted to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
Zelenskyj is unconcerned about Trump’s possible election. “I will talk to Trump,” says Zelensky. “And if his formula or his format brings peace and it takes him 24 hours to achieve it, then I will be a very happy president. Because I know how many people we lose in a day.”
When it comes to Germany, the Ukrainian president has high expectations: “I would really like Germany to play a leading role, that’s a fact,” he says. Germany could manage to consolidate the EU because many countries are dependent on Germany. Germany has a strong economy. “I still think that the danger is very great. Passivity from the USA or the lack of support would be a bad signal. That wouldn’t be right. For everyone.”
The crying woman
The people of Ukraine have now endured more than seven hundred days of war. At the beginning of the program, Caren Miosga tells how she was caught in a Russian missile attack on the train ride to Kiev. The woman next to her immediately started crying. Vassili Golod works for ARD as a correspondent in Kiev. He says people are now tired of war. Nevertheless, their will to defend their country remains unbroken.
What does Zelenskyj contribute to this? He doesn’t know whether he can reach people in his speeches. But he says: “I talk to people, and I think it’s important for all of us not to lose what we have: our home, our people.” And Zelenskyj continues: “I don’t know if all of my words reach everyone. But they are honest. They are intended to ensure that we are all united and that no one feels alone. And that is very important for the whole of Ukraine. Even if we are talking about Western journalists who – like you – are here now and are bringing the truth abroad, to other cities and other countries. I am very grateful to you for that. And every support from our partners is also very important, so that Ukraine doesn’t feel like it’s alone.”