Academicians, artists, churchmen and journalists appealed to the German Chancellor not to deliver weapons to Ukraine and thereby prolong the war, but instead take the lead for an initiative to have a ceasefire and begin serious talks on a peace agreement. The letter warns in strong words against a bigger war, potentially a nuclear one, to grow out of a prolonged war in Ukraine.
Here are excerpts from the letter, published today in the Berliner Zeitung. (https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/offener-brief-fordert-von-scholz-stopp-der-waffenlieferungen-an-die-ukraine-li.223704) Signers include Hans-Christof Graf von Sponeck, former Assistant Secretary General of the UNO, and Dr. Antje Vollmer, former Vice President of the German Bundestag:
“Dear Chancellor Scholz,
“We are people of different backgrounds, political attitudes and positions towards the policies of NATO, Russia and the German government. We all deeply condemn this war of Russia in Ukraine, which cannot be justified by anything. We are united in warning against an uncontrollable expansion of the war with unforeseeable consequences for the entire world and in opposing a prolongation of the war and bloodshed with arms deliveries. By supplying weapons, Germany and other NATO countries have de facto made themselves a party to the war. And thus Ukraine has also become the battleground for the conflict between NATO and Russia over the security order in Europe, which has been escalating for years.
“This brutal war in the middle of Europe is being fought on the backs of the Ukrainian population. The economic war now unleashed is at the same time endangering supplies for the people of Russia and many poor countries around the world. Reports of war crimes are mounting. Even if they are difficult to verify under the prevailing conditions, it can be assumed that in this war, as in others before, atrocities are being committed and the brutality increases with its duration. All the more reason to end it quickly.
