Either Ukraine wins.
Or Russia loses.
At first glance, both scenarios for a positive end to the war from a Western perspective appear similar, almost congruent.
According to Marina Weisband's argument, they differ significantly, because a defeat by Russia after a long war leaves a much weaker aggressor than a quick victory by Ukraine.
And so could ensure that Russia represents a significantly lower power factor for future negotiations in the long term.
Weisband considers this target to be just as big a mistake as Germany's policy towards Russia and Ukraine.
"
If Putin cuts off the gas for us, we could say, ok, then we'll send 120 Leopards to Ukraine," she says.
'Or you could do what we do.
And that's softening the sanctions.
And if we react like that, then of course it's worth it for Putin to turn off the gas.
He would have to be stupid not to do that.
So we give him the direct motivation to harm us.
We put the reins of action in his hands«.
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Marina Weisband accuses Germany of having delayed the EU's arms deliveries for its own motives and sees Chancellor Olaf Scholz in particular as a source of criticism.
»He is currently the most important person in Germany and the most politically powerful.
And I have every right, as a citizen of both states that I am, to be wildly disappointed,” she says.
“Even if Germany is now pulling itself together and apparently sending something after all.
But we lost so many valuable months.
The war could have been over by now."
In this episode of SPIEGEL's foreign podcast "Eight Billion," Marina Weisband explains what the motives might be, why she is also calling for a fundamental reform of the UN Security Council, and why she describes the Russian narrative as fascist.
