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Photo: Christophe Gateau / dpa
For the first time since the new tensions began about the massive Russian troop deployment near Ukraine, official representatives of both conflict countries want to meet for talks.
A meeting at the advisory level between Russia and Ukraine is planned in Paris today – France and Germany are also taking part in the so-called Normandy format.
Immediately before the start of the meeting, however, Michael Roth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, called on Russia to give in again.
"The ultimate and most important goal is for Russia to end its military aggression and withdraw the more than 100,000 combat-ready soldiers on the border with Ukraine," the SPD politician told the editorial network Germany.
In addition, Russia must also be prepared to refrain from other hybrid forms of warfare.
Western countries had recently shown increasing concern that Russia could escalate the conflict with a military invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow denied such intentions.
Germany continues to say no to arms deliveries
The Normandy meeting now scheduled will deal with humanitarian measures and future considerations in Ukraine.
They also want to find a date on which Ukraine will negotiate with the separatists loyal to the Kremlin about a special status for the Donbass region.
Ukraine has so far officially rejected this.
She sees Moscow and not the separatists as a negotiating partner.
According to UN estimates, more than 14,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Kremlin separatists in the Ukrainian Donbass region since 2014.
Peace talks are currently on hold.
With a view to the discussions about the German role in the Ukraine conflict, Roth rejected the allies' criticism of the German approach to the crisis.
»Our restrictive arms export policy will not change even with the traffic light coalition.
That means: No deliveries of lethal weapons to crisis areas," said the SPD politician.
In view of the Russian aggression, which other states have now also felt, he recommended caution.
Germany must take "the threats that our Polish or Baltic partners, but now also our Finnish or Swedish friends, feel" very seriously.
»We cannot simply ignore these security interests.«
»We need clear signals from Germany«
Several Eastern European countries recently accused Germany of ducking the Ukraine issue - especially when it came to arms deliveries.
"In Poland and other Eastern European countries, many are wondering what game Germany is actually playing in the Ukraine conflict," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told the dpa news agency during a visit to Berlin.
There are doubts as to whether one can count on Germany.
»I would wish that these doubts would not increase, but be reduced.
We need clear signals from Germany.«
Specifically, the deputy foreign minister demanded a clear no from the federal government for the commissioning of the controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline and quick approval for the delivery of howitzers from former GDR stocks from Estonia to the Ukraine. “We are in a special situation. And in a special situation you should also resort to special means," he said of the German cancellation of arms deliveries to Ukraine. "And that's why we expect strong words and strong actions from the German government and not a fogging of the facts."
The federal government is examining a permit requested by Estonia for the delivery of arms to Ukraine.
This is necessary because the howitzers from GDR old stocks were first sold to Finland with conditions and then later given to Estonia from there.
Ukraine is also demanding from Germany arms supplies to defend against a possible large-scale Russian attack, including warships and air defense systems.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) have clearly rejected the delivery of lethal, i.e. deadly, weapons.
mrc/dpa/Reuters
