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Ex-President Gauck: "It is in the national interest to be prepared to face aggressive wars against neighboring countries"
Photo: Janine Schmitz / photothek / IMAGO
How should Germany appear among Western partners a year after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
Former Federal President Joachim Gauck warns Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to assume a clearer leadership role.
"It is now extremely important that the Chancellor communicates what his policy is," Gauck told Die Zeit.
Germany is "a country looking for security that has been spoiled with prosperity and peace for a long time."
According to Gauck, mistakes were made during his own tenure as Federal President.
The then Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) should have acted differently towards Russia, said Gauck.
Merkel could have responded differently to the illegal annexation of Crimea "than just with sanctions and increased dependence on Russian gas," said the ex-president.
There are not only moral reasons for supporting Ukraine after the Russian invasion, said Gauck: "Rather, it is also in the national interest to be ready to defend ourselves against an anti-democratic ideology and aggressive wars against neighboring countries." Germany must "massively strengthen Ukraine's defense struggle." .
When asked whether this meant more tanks and also fighter planes, he said: »Without a doubt, we must and will deliver more!«
Lack of understanding for Putin supporters in the East
In an interview with the RTL "Nachtjournal" Gauck expressed his dismay at the pro-Russian attitude of some people in East Germany.
"The right-wing thinking and left-wing thinking and the shaped souls of some East Germans mean that there is a little more understanding and sometimes even support for Putin in this area of Germany, that's particularly bad," he said.
"The support and the carrying of Russian flags to pay homage to an aggressive power that brutally negates the right to life of others: I mean, is it still okay?" Gauck added.
The ex-Federal President said that he could "very well" understand the attitude of some East German citizens towards Russia.
"But I can't accept that."
fek/AFP
