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Sahra Wagenknecht: “This won’t bring peace to Ukraine, but will drag Germany into war.”
Photo: Lukas Barth/dpa
Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht warns of a risk of war for Germany if the federal government supplies extensive weapons to Ukraine. The member of the Bundestag used sharp words against a planned motion by the traffic light parties that would pressure the federal government to provide such systems.
"This war-drunk motion means a new level of escalation and a real danger for our country," said Wagenknecht. The traffic light factions of the SPD, Greens and FDP wanted to bring the war to Russia. "This will not bring peace to Ukraine, but will drag Germany into the war." Wagenknecht again called for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Russia invaded Ukraine almost exactly two years ago and now occupies around a fifth of the neighboring country. The Ukrainian military initially pushed the Russian attackers back from some areas with Western military help. Ukraine is currently complaining about a lack of supplies and is urgently calling for more long-range weapons such as the German Taurus system, which can also reach Russian territory. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not yet approved the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles.
The Taurus cruise missiles are not mentioned by name in the coalition factions' planned proposal. However, the paper calls for "the delivery of additionally necessary long-range weapon systems and ammunition in order to enable Ukraine (...) to enable targeted attacks in accordance with international law on strategically relevant targets far in the rear area of the Russian aggressor."
The parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, FDP and Greens agreed on the motion on Monday after long discussions. It also expressly emphasized that the extent of military aid must be based on the “restoration of the full territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”.
eru/dpa