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Ukraine crisis: FDP urges Annalena Baerbock to be tough on Russia

2022-01-16T08:23:40.386Z


Foreign Minister Baerbock will travel to Ukraine and Russia at the beginning of the week. Clear advice comes from the coalition partner: "Putin only understands crystal clear announcements."


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Annalena Baerbock (Greens): Clear expectations of the FDP - and from Ukraine

Photo:

Florian Gaertner / imago images/photothek

Shortly before Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) travels to Ukraine for the first time and one day later to Russia, she receives strategy recommendations from her coalition partner FDP - for a tough approach towards Russia.

The FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann told the AFP news agency: Russia's President Vladimir Putin is pursuing "great power fantasies" and wants "back to the Cold War era".

He understands »only crystal-clear announcements – including the possible consequences«.

Strack-Zimmermann is Chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee.

"Putin is testing how far he can go"

The FDP politician welcomed the fact that there had been a series of diplomatic contacts at international level with Russia in the past week.

However, she warned that the West must be careful not to make too many concessions in the dialogue with Russia: »Putin is testing how far he can go, he is showing us off and forcing the narrative on us that we have to move.« The Kremlin Boss »provokes on all levels«.

According to Strack-Zimmermann, this behavior of the Russian government can be seen not only in the tense situation on the Ukrainian border, but also, for example, in cyber attacks and Russian military connections to African countries such as Mali.

The deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul, said: He expects Baerbock "a clear stance and unmistakable announcements so that Russia initiates a course of de-escalation".

Baerbock will first fly to Ukraine on Monday, where she wants to speak to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev and promise Ukraine support in view of the Russian troop deployment at the border.

On Monday evening she wants to continue her journey in Russia.

There she will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian ambassador is pushing for arms deliveries from Germany

Expectations of Baerbock and the federal government were also formulated from Ukraine before the visit: The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the newspaper "Bild am Sonntag": "We expect the new federal government to take a firm and clear course on the Russian threats and attempts at intimidation - together with Ukraine and our partners and allies.« Kuleba described Russian President Putin as a »master at stirring up fears«.

He would only stop where he was stopped - Putin only understands the language of strength.

"No business interest and no need to show sympathy for Putin is worth allowing a bloody war in Europe."

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The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin called on the Greens politician to promise Ukraine the delivery of weapons for national defense.

The previous reluctance or even refusal of arms deliveries is "very frustrating and bitter," said Andriy Melnyk of the German Press Agency.

“People in Ukraine are extremely disappointed.

Now the moment of truth has come as to who the real friend is.' The world is 'currently facing the greatest danger of a huge war in the middle of Europe, the worst since 1945,' the ambassador continued.

The people of Ukraine have the "sacred right to self-defense."

Delivery of protective equipment conceivable

In the coalition agreement of the traffic light government, arms deliveries to crisis regions are excluded.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, the SPD politician Michael Roth, now said: It is conceivable to discuss the delivery of protective equipment such as helmets and protective vests.

Shortly before Christmas, Baerbock had said on the issue of arms deliveries to the Ukraine: "Another military escalation would bring no further security to the Ukraine." Ambassador Melnyk now compared a refusal to deliver arms with not providing aid.

The USA and the Western defense alliance NATO are demanding a withdrawal of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine.

Russia, on the other hand, is demanding a reduction in US troops and weapons in Europe and an assurance that NATO will not expand further east.

vki/dpa/AFP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-01-16

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