Habeck: Are on the verge of a massive land war in Europe

Created: 02/24/2022Updated: 02/24/2022 03:56

With regard to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Robert Habeck speaks of a clearly aggressive situation brought about by Russia, which points to a war of aggression.

© Michele Tantussi/Reuters/Pool/dpa

Robert Habeck hardly sees a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Vice Chancellor speaks of an "armament spiral" from which it would be difficult to get out.

Berlin - According to the assessment of the Federal Minister of Economics and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, an escalation is imminent in the Ukraine conflict.

You are "on the verge of a massive land war in Europe," said the Green politician on Wednesday evening in the ARD program "maischberger.

the week".

"I think that once you start such a spiral of rearmament, it's hard to get out of it."

At the moment there is no idea how to get back into diplomatic talks after Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech and his recognition of the so-called People's Republics in eastern Ukraine.

There can no longer be any talk of an escalated situation, it is a clear, aggressive situation brought about by Russia that points to a war of aggression.

A situation "unlike since the Balkan wars"

"This is a situation in such a concrete situation that we have not had since at least the Balkan wars, and these were civil wars in the broadest sense, it was not that one country was threatening to overrun another."

Habeck also said: "We are experiencing a deep turning point in politics, German politics, European politics, transatlantic politics", which - even if there is no war - will have consequences for the energy sector, the orientation of the economy, the ability of the Bundeswehr to defend itself and the transatlantic relationship.

Sanctions could have consequences for Germany

Habeck expected that the sanctions against Russia could also have economic consequences for Germany.

"There are actually no sanctions that do not also have economic consequences in the country whose trade relations are interrupted," said Habeck.

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A lot of effort was put into formatting the sanctions in such a way that they had as severe an effect as possible in Russia and hit the German economy as little as possible, said Habeck, "but a certain amount of damage will of course always remain, that's completely clear".

But that is also acceptable, because in such a situation, peace has a price.

Habeck: "In the end it's just money"

When the federal government stopped the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Habeck said that this was not a sanction.

It is a regular test procedure in which he, as Minister, is responsible for carrying out this procedure in accordance with the law.

"A different reality, a different political situation makes it necessary to revise the assessment," he said.

Habeck emphasized that the Ukraine crisis must lead to a turning point in Germany's energy policy.

"I expect a federal consensus that we're going to get serious now and not talk about procedures to expand electricity grids, power plants or renewable energies." The federal government is willing to accept high costs for this: "Then we'll borrow money.

In the end it's just money.

This is about national security.

If the situation requires it, the necessary funds will be made available. dpa