"Not a good feeling": Söder warns of Ukraine escalation - and shoots against Green "tank experts"

Created: 04/28/2022, 20:26

By: Christian Deutschländer, Kai Hartwig

Markus Söder (CSU), Prime Minister of Bavaria, sits in his seat before the start of a face-to-face meeting of the Bavarian cabinet.

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

Markus Söder is concerned about the political debate on the Ukraine war in Germany.

He warns against “talking yourself into a war”.

Munich – The Bundestag voted yes to the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.

After weeks of disagreement, the traffic light parties finally came to a compromise.

It was also supported by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) supports the decision that Germany will supply heavy weapons to Ukraine.

In an interview with our newspaper, however, he also restricted this.

Söder supports tank deliveries to Ukraine - but is surprised at the "euphoria" of the Greens

Söder believes that Germany must provide military support to Ukraine in the war against Russia.

“We have to help Ukraine.

The best and quickest way to do that is with weapons," said Bavaria's father.

Nonetheless, he was amazed at "the euphoria with which some people talk about ever-increasing arms deliveries and possibly talk their way into a war."

The CSU chairman is alluding to the Greens in particular.

These "used to be pacifists at every Easter march," says Söder, "now they would like to hold military parades.

Anton Hofreiter in particular suddenly developed into an expert for tanks, grenades and cannons.

That's too fast for me, too many jumps in too short a time."

Söder would have “not a good feeling” about further tank deliveries to Ukraine

Nevertheless, he thinks "the decision of the Bundestag is correct, but we have to be careful that we don't become a party to the war bit by bit," warned Söder.

The delivery of Gepard tanks decided by the Bundestag must be enough for the time being, Söder demanded.

“Now the next ones are already talking about further deliveries of Leopard tanks.

I don't have a good feeling about this spiral."

Söder takes Russia's threatening gestures against the West very seriously.

A nuclear strike cannot be ruled out either.

"I didn't think that Putin would start this war and commit these war crimes in Ukraine," he admitted. "That's why you can't rule out anything now." In addition to helping Ukraine, you also have to protect NATO and them strengthen the armed forces.

"But we should consider and weigh everything," said Söder.