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Roderich Kiesewetter, CDU, calls for "selective arms deliveries" to Ukraine

2022-02-05T07:25:43.579Z


The CDU foreign politician Kiesewetter spoke out in favor of the delivery of “rather defensively designed weapons” from Germany to the Ukraine. These could have a “deterrent effect”.


Enlarge image

US plane with equipment and weapons for Ukraine (on 01/31/22 in Dover, USA)

Photo: Senior Airman Stephani Barge/dpa

The United States is putting pressure on Russia by moving troops to Europe and supplying arms to Ukraine.

According to the CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter, Germany should also play a more active role in the conflict in Eastern Europe and supply weapons to the government in Kiev.

"Selective arms deliveries to Ukraine would help to increase the deterrent effect in order to change Putin's calculations and Russia's escalation dominance," Kiesewetter told the "Rheinische Post" and the Bonn "General-anzeiger".

A "credible reaction by Germany to the threat to Ukraine from Russia" is needed.

Specifically, the CDU politician named deliveries for telecommunications reconnaissance, jamming transmitters against Russian communications, night vision devices, anti-tank technology or anti-aircraft missiles, "i.e. rather defensive weapons".

The Ukrainian side had vehemently and repeatedly demanded arms deliveries from Germany as well.

In this debate, the Chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has now called on representatives of the Ukraine to exercise moderation.

“I understand very well that the Ukrainian representatives in Kiev are on edge because of the threat posed by the Russian army.

But I have no sympathy for the constant verbal gaffes on the part of some Ukrainian voices towards us," said the FDP politician to the dpa news agency.

»In the last few years Germany has given Ukraine a lot of help out of responsibility and friendship.

In the heat of the emotional battle, the Ukrainian representatives should therefore please not confuse friend and foe,” Strack-Zimmermann warned.

"A little moderation would be in order."

more on the subject

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  • Russia's troop deployment in Ukraine: Scholz travels to Putin in mid-February

The federal government has so far ruled out arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) only gave a clear rejection of such a measure on Wednesday evening in the ZDF “heute journal”.

This attitude has recently been clearly criticized by Ukraine and eastern NATO allies.

Scholz will be received by US President Joe Biden in the White House on Monday.

Scholz wants to meet with Putin on February 15.

“Clear message to Putin”

With a view to these planned trips, CDU politician Kiesewetter called on the chancellor to sharpen his position.

"Chancellor Scholz must make a clear commitment to Putin for the European security order, for Ukraine and for NATO's position," said Kiesewetter.

"This includes the clear announcement to President Putin that Germany is not prepared to rule out any sanctions and is also prepared to accept disadvantages and costs." Therefore, neither the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline nor Russia's exclusion from the Swift payment system should be sanctions be excluded.

US Senator calls for Germany to change course

There is also pressure on Germany from the USA. Before Chancellor Scholz's inaugural visit to Washington, US Senator Jim Risch called on the federal government to reconsider its course in the Ukraine conflict. "A large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine will have dramatic effects on the whole of Europe - including Germany," the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee told the dpa news agency. "While I'm aware of Germany's longstanding policy on arms sales, the situation in Ukraine, and NATO allies agree on this, is so unique that Germany should reconsider its stance."

At the same time, the senator called for consequences for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. "We have certainly heard from the German government that Nord Stream 2 could be a target of sanctions," said Risch.

'If that's true, that's all well and good.

But that's not enough for me.

We heard similar protestations when Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, but a few months later Germany pushed the project forward again.«

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly emphasized the unity of NATO allies in the Ukraine crisis.

In the past few weeks, he has been faced with increasingly critical questions about Germany's role.

Republican Senator Risch, when asked if he still considered Germany a reliable US ally, said the bilateral relationship went beyond the Ukraine conflict.

"But I think it can also improve." Germany and the United States should find ways of cooperation in the face of the many common threats from Russia, China and Iran.

mmq/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-02-05

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