The SPD co-chairman Lars Klingbeil has admitted mistakes in dealing with Russia and wants to draw conclusions about the relationship with China.
"We have always had a political and social consensus in this country that we want to be close to Russia, that we are looking for closeness to Russia," Klingbeil told the phoenix broadcaster on Sunday, according to a statement.
"That was the case in business, when it came to gas, when it came to oil deliveries, but politically we have repeatedly insisted that there be a close political consensus with Russia." From today's perspective, one has to say that this was a mistake.
"We should have taken a turn sooner - the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Navalny, the Tiergarten murder - these were all signs that we should have dealt with Russia differently politically."
Conclusions would have to be drawn from these errors for the future, Klingbeil said.
"If it's about dealing with China, for example, then we have to act differently today and be more critical." Russia is concerned, and above all we must become more independent.”
"Don't give Putin sovereignty of interpretation"
In addition, Klingbeil warned against giving Putin the authority to interpret May 8th.
“We must not allow Russia to falsify history.
And we must not allow Putin to try to interpret this May 8, but also the war,” he said, referring to the Russian attack on Ukraine.
It was therefore right that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it clear in his television speech "why we are standing by the courageous Ukrainians these days, these weeks and why we are helping them".
In Russia, the Day of Victory over Nazism will be celebrated this Monday instead of May 8 like everywhere else in Europe, with a military parade and a speech by Putin.
He justified the attack on Ukraine with the pretext of wanting to liberate the country from Nazism - but there is no solid evidence for this accusation.