In a guest article for Berliner Zeitung (https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/ein-jahrzehnt-der-bewaehrung-li.10015423), former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder writes: “Of course, the war in Ukraine cannot be respected or relativized. It is contrary to international law and a violation of human rights,” but there is no military solution, instead all diplomatic means must be used to stop the war.
“But I am also against demonizing Russia as an eternal enemy. Russia is not a country of barbarians, but a country with a great culture and diverse historical connections to Germany,” Schröder writes, adding that it remains a “German disgrace” that Russia was brutally invaded by German soldiers in two world wars.
At present, there is too much talk of “military capabilities,” but Germany and Europe primarily need “peace capabilities,” Schröder writes. That is why he continues to believe that what he promoted during his time as Chancellor was the right thing to do: the secure and reliable import of inexpensive energy from Russia. “We need these kinds of ways to work with Russia.”
Schröder also warned that the EU is losing power and becoming less important internationally with its current approach—partly because Washington and Moscow are talking about Ukraine’s future without the EU, “but we’re the ones who have to pay for the war.”
