In “Hard but fair”, the leader of the left parliamentary group, Amira Mohamed Ali, insists on a diplomatic solution for Ukraine and is met with serious opposition.
Berlin – Weapons or diplomacy in Ukraine?
Seven heads try to find an answer in "Hart aber fair" moderated by Louis Klamroth.
Vassili Golod, ARD reporter and author of a report that preceded the show, is himself semi-Russian.
"I've never seen Ukraine so united as it is now," he says.
Everyone there wanted to keep fighting, without exception.
Therefore, the delivery of more weapons is mandatory.
Former Bundeswehr general Hans-Lothar Domröse also shares this view.
You will see a "terrible, bloody spring offensive".
That's why it's now important to deliver: "Ukraine needs fighter jets, and fast."
"Hard but fair": These guests discussed with Louis Klamroth
Katarina Barley
(Vice President of the EU Parliament, SPD)
Hans-Lothar Domröse
(ex-General of the German Armed Forces)
Gesine Dornblüth
(journalist)
Vassili Golod
(ARD correspondent, Kiev)
Amira Mohamed Ali
(Chairman of the parliamentary group, Die Linke)
Andriy Melnyk
(Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine)
Ina Ruck
(ARD correspondent, Moscow)
Amira Mohamed Ali, parliamentary group leader of the Left Party, on the other hand, urges prudence.
One must refrain from anything that leads to a further escalation, because "we do not see any convincing diplomatic offensive from Germany".
It is reminiscent of the campaign promises made by the Greens.
They had advertised that they did not want to deliver weapons to crisis and war zones.
The voter was deceived.
Your SPD colleague Katarina Barley interjects that "talks are being held behind the scenes".
"Who's talking to whom?" moderator Louis Klamroth wants to know, but Barley protests: "It's not going to be held here at the fair." And the journalist Gesine Dornblüth reminds us of the unsuccessful peace talks.
As early as spring 2022, shortly after the invasion, Russia and Ukraine wanted to come to an agreement.
At that time, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened in Kiev and the initiative came to an end.
Arms deliveries and diplomacy should complement each other, says Dornblüth.
Mohamed Ali wants negotiations in the Ukraine war - ex-General Domröse shows no understanding
Correspondent Golod makes the goals of the Russian President clear.
Putin says he wants to fight Nazi elements like the Azov battalion in Ukraine and liberate those areas in Donbass where fighting has been going on since 2014.
According to Golod, it is about a “denazification of Ukraine – I don’t understand what he means by that.”
Mohamed Ali is alone in her desire for a diplomatic solution.
As soon as she speaks, the group gets loud.
Above all, the ex-General Domröse has no understanding.
He accuses Mohamed Ali of wanting to "just let the rapist continue".
Then the left-wing politician bursts: "I don't know what such rhetoric is supposed to be about." It is clear to her: "Russia will not be deterred if Ukraine is further militarized." "that more people die".
Such warnings are "honourable, but completely wrong," says Golod.
He also rejects the peace petition by left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht and feminist Alice Schwarzer.
"People react with disbelief," says Golod.
Barley calls out: "The Ukrainians don't want it, they want to fight!" Klamroth wants to start a one-player, but Barley and Mohamed Ali get caught up in each other and can no longer be stopped.
The moderator finally gives up: "The two keep talking, we'll watch the film."
German fighter jets for Ukraine: ex-ambassador Melnyk full of hope
Klamroth wants to know from former ambassador Andriy Melnyk, who is connected via video, why Ukraine is demanding more and more weapons.
Why was Melnyk already demanding fighter jets just a few hours after the German commitment to Leopard tanks?
But for Ukraine's current deputy foreign minister, his actions are neither exaggerated nor dangerous.
"This demand was not new," he says.
"Many Germans think it's never enough.
Can you understand that?” asks Klamroth.
"We're not asking for ground troops," Melnyk replies.
"It's all about arms deliveries." He wants a lot more, jets, combat ships and submarines are also needed.
A nuclear first strike by the West, as demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is not an option for Melnyk, however: "It is clear that we will not call for nuclear bombs."
For journalist Dornblüth, further arms deliveries are harmless from a legal point of view: Ukraine has never attacked Russian areas "with Western weapons".
The country only uses “modified Ukrainian drones” for this purpose, as they are also used for war gas operations.
"Why the yes to battle tanks, but the no to fighter jets?" Klamroth wants to know from Barley.
For them, the reaction of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is not so clear: "I'll put it in the room now whether that's a no or not."
Domröse defends Ukrainian desire for fighter jets: But "political strategy" is missing
Weapons expert Domröse explains that an airplane is much faster than a tank.
With the 1,500-kilometer front line, a jet can cover much more terrain.
What Domröse is missing, however, is “a political strategy”.
"Will the no eventually become a yes?" asks Klamroth.
"I think it's completely wrong to speculate in such a way about such questions," replies Barley.
"This is not a game.
In retrospect, the way in which the federal government tackles these issues has always proven to be the right one.” Nevertheless, Melnyk is certain: “Germany will deliver fighter jets.
It's only a matter of time."
A Year of Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia
A Year of Ukraine War: The Origins of the Conflict with Russia
Putin a "schoolyard bully"?
Left parliamentary group leader draws attention to status as a nuclear power
Western military experts like those at the US think tank RAND Corporation warn that this war can only escalate, but that Ukraine can never win, says Mohamed Ali.
Domröse, on the other hand, sees no danger: "Putin has threatened nuclear weapons more than 20 times," he says.
"I can't rule anything out, but I think it's pretty unrealistic."
Klamroth compares Putin to a "schoolyard bully who threatens to be beaten".
Can you buckle in there?
Mohamed tries to put the picture straight: "Unfortunately, the schoolyard bully is the leader of the largest nuclear power in the world.
I think Putin is an irrational person who cannot be predicted as to what he will and will not do.”
Conclusion of the "hard but fair" talk
As soon as the word diplomacy is mentioned, six out of seven guests immediately object.
The commander's dialectic and self-confidence sometimes seems strange.
Mohamed Ali is putting up a good fight even when everyone forms a front against her.
Klamroth seems overwhelmed.
Maybe he'll put his laps together a bit more balanced in the future.
(Michael Goermann)
