Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, in an interview published by the Berliner Zeitung on Oct 20, said that the U.S. government didn’t “allow” any compromises that could have brought an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in March 2022. He had been asked to help mediate the March 2022 peace negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Istanbul. He said that, although Ukraine’s representatives were open to making concessions on such key issues as not joining NATO, “the Ukrainians did not agree to peace because they were not allowed to. They first had to ask the Americans about everything they discussed…. My impression: Nothing could happen because everything else was decided in Washington.”
Schröder called Washington’s strategy “fatal.... The Americans believe they can keep the Russians down. Now, it is the case that two actors, China and Russia, that are limited by the U.S.A., are joining forces. Americans believe they are strong enough to keep both sides in check. In my humble opinion, this is a mistake. Just look how torn the American side is now. Look at the chaos in Congress.”
“The arms deliveries are not a solution for eternity, but no one wants to talk. Everyone is sitting in trenches. How many more people have to die? It’s a bit like the Middle East. Who are the victims on one side and on the other? Poor people who lose their children.... [German Chancellor] Scholz and [French President] Macron should actually support a peace process in Ukraine because it’s not just an American matter, but above all a European matter.” He asked: “Why did Scholz and Macron not combine the arms deliveries with an offer to talk? Macron and Scholz are the only ones who can talk to Putin.”
He also addressed the claim that Russia intends to conquer Europe: “This fear of the Russians coming is absurd. How are they supposed to defeat NATO, let alone occupy Western Europe?” On the other hand, Schröder added, Russia has reasons to worry about NATO’s attempted expansion eastward into Ukraine or Georgia, regardless who is ruling in Russia. Russia’s “threat analysis may be emotional, but it is real in Russia. The West must understand this and accept compromises accordingly. Otherwise, peace will be difficult to achieve.”
