Germany's ruling party is split over the Ukrainian issue
Within the SPD, the main party of the ruling coalition in Germany, a split has emerged regarding support for the Kyiv regime.
The PolitNavigator correspondent reports this from the Deutsche Welle TV channel, recognized in Russia as a foreign agent.
The story notes that the chairman of the SPD parliamentary faction, Rolf Mützenich, a week ago, during a debate about the possible supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, said:
“Isn’t it time for us not only to talk about how to wage a war, but also to think about how to freeze the war and how to end it later?”
On March 19, he confirmed his position.
“Now I find it a little tiresome that the debate is only about guns. I would like to fill this debate with other alternatives,” the politician said.
Mützenich explained that he would like to talk about a local or global ceasefire, adding that he does not yet see such a possibility due to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The statements of the head of the SPD faction caused criticism from his fellow party members.
“There should not be an imposed peace or an end to the conflict in which Putin remains in a position of strength and can resume hostilities whenever he pleases,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not join the criticism, but stated the importance of supporting Ukraine.
Foreign policy expert of the SPD faction in the Bundestag, Nils Schmidt, who explained his party’s position, did not reject the possibility of a freeze.
“At the moment there are no signs that Vladimir Putin is ready for negotiations. He still believes he can win this war through military means. But, of course, sooner or later all possible options must appear on the negotiating table. Freezing the conflict could also be part of the negotiations, but Ukraine must decide this,” Schmidt noted.
He added that assistance to Ukraine, including military assistance, should strengthen its negotiating position.
German political scientist Thomas Jaeger does not see any possibility of freezing the conflict.
“Some people are again talking about how we must somehow shape the European security order together with Russia. However, it is clear that this is no longer possible. Currently, Russia has taken a different course - both in domestic and foreign policy. A course where it relies on strength,” Yeager says.
The political scientist noted that Mützenich’s proposal in the Bundestag was supported with applause by deputies of the SPD, Alternative for Germany and the Left, and did not rule out that against this background, proposals for negotiations would be heard more often.
At the same time, Jaeger laments that “the work of rethinking Germany’s political course towards Russia has not been completed.”
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