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Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has again sharply criticized Putin
Photo: IMAGO/Thomas Trutschel / IMAGO/photothek
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has again sharply criticized Vladimir Putin for his war against Ukraine.
With a view to the sanctions, which the Kremlin chief sees as aggression, Baerbock said on ARD: "What we are experiencing, what he is doing, is aggression to the power of a thousand." Putin is breaking with all the rules of international law, with all the rules of human rights togetherness
"His tanks don't bring peace, they only bring suffering."
Baerbock also justifies NATO's rejection of a no-fly zone demanded by the Ukrainian government.
A possible consequence of a no-fly zone: NATO planes would have to shoot down Russian planes.
"That would mean we were directly involved in this war," Baerbock said.
One bears a responsibility “for the protection of the people in Ukraine”, but one also bears a responsibility for millions of Europeans.
Vladimir Putin had warned the West of a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
"Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as a country's participation in an armed conflict," he had said.
The Ukraine war must not end in a third world war, said Baerbock.
Instead, it is being examined whether NATO can deliver combat aircraft to Ukraine via Poland.
This is related to the fact that the Ukrainian military can only use aircraft that "are still of the type from the Soviet Union".
“Preparations are underway as to how Poland could deliver these aircraft without making them no longer defensible themselves.”
hba/Reuters