SPD parliamentary group leader Mützenich from the traffic light coalition was criticized for his suggestion to think about “freezing” the war in Ukraine. Now party friend Pistorius is also distancing himself.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has distanced himself from the statements made by the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, about freezing the war in Ukraine. “In the end it would only help Putin,” said Pistorius after a meeting with Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Helenow near Warsaw.
This is a position that one can take in order to speak out for peace. “But there cannot be a dictated peace and no peace that leads to it, or a ceasefire or a freeze in which Putin comes out stronger in the end and continues the conflict whenever he pleases,” Pistorius said. Ukraine must continue to be supported “without ifs and buts”.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also criticized Mützenich’s move. “This is not an idea that should be considered,” he said at a joint press conference with Pistorius, according to the official translation. She is even “dangerous”. The Western allies are unlikely to “get used” to the war in Ukraine.
Mützenich encourages reflection on “freezing” the war
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich spoke about the conditions for a possible end to the war in a Bundestag debate about the delivery of “Taurus” cruise missiles to Ukraine. He asked the question: “Isn’t it time that we not only talk about how to fight a war, but also think about how to freeze a war and end it later?” Within the traffic light coalition, these statements sparked criticism from the Greens and the FDP.
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, however, received encouragement: “It seems to me that the SPD parliamentary group leader, Mr. Rolf Mützenich, is on the right path. His position should be supported by the party and parliamentary group,” demanded the 79-year-old.
Schröder has been friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin since he was chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and continues to work for the majority Russian companies on the Nord Stream pipelines through the Baltic Sea. The SPD leadership distanced itself from him, but proceedings to expel him from the party failed.
Polish rejection of ground troops in Ukraine
At the press conference with Defense Minister Pistorius, his Polish counterpart Kosiniak-Kamysz also discussed a possible deployment of ground troops to Ukraine, which he rejected. “Poland has no intention of sending troops to Ukraine.” That is the government’s position. “And I will repeat this in all forums.”
French President Emmanuel Macron had not ruled out the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejects this. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had already expressed his opinion as did his defense minister. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, in turn, supports Macron’s move.
Berlin and Warsaw want Ammunition manufacturing advance
Poland is a key ally of neighboring Ukraine. The country is a hub for Western military aid to Kiev and plays an important role in securing NATO’s eastern flank. Pistorius now said that Berlin and Warsaw wanted to work together with industry in both countries to ramp up ammunition production. Supporting the Ukrainian army in the war against the Russian invading troops is not just about supplying ammunition that “can be found somewhere.” Rather, production should be ramped up in Germany, Poland and other countries.
The Ukrainian armed forces are facing increasing shortages of ammunition, making their fight against Russian troops more difficult. Pistorius underlined the importance of German-Polish cooperation in security and defense policy as well as in support for Ukraine. This “connectedness” is particularly important given Russia’s daily attempts to “divide and drive the West apart.” Poland is an “extremely important partner,” said the German Defense Minister.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation. He announced a meeting of the defense ministers of the Weimar Triangle, which includes Poland, Germany and France, in May.