Ramelow wants blue helmet soldiers in Ukraine - including Germans
Thuringia's Minister President Ramelow makes a demand that his party has allegedly avoided for a long time - due to Sahra Wagenknecht, whom he sharply criticizes. The idea of UN peacekeeping soldiers in Ukraine is currently likely to be quite unrealistic, as a ceasefire is still far away.
Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow advocates for German soldiers to participate in a potential UN mission in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire. "We should be open to German soldiers under UN mandate in case of a ceasefire," Ramelow told the "Tagesspiegel": "If a ceasefire occurs, Europeans should be ready to send UN peacekeeping soldiers to Ukraine."
The Left party has so far "avoided such a decision, also because Frau Wagenknecht has prevented it," he accused his former party colleague and chairwoman of the same BSW. Ramelow is counting on Beijing for this. "Europe should clarify its relationship with China, among other things. Because China could generate an impulse that forces Russia to a ceasefire," he said.
However, the chances of a ceasefire are extremely low. Vladimir Putin has formulated several conditions, such as far-reaching territorial concessions, which Ukraine strictly rejects. Moreover, the Russian side repeatedly makes it clear that it wants to achieve its war goals. Former President Medvedev said that even in case of a ceasefire, he wants to bring the remaining Ukrainian territories "into the bosom of the Russian land".
Only Ukraine itself can decide on territorial concessions, "not Frau Wagenknecht or Oskar Lafontaine," said Ramelow: "We cannot impose a dictated peace on the attacked state." Ramelow accused Wagenknecht of "only spreading Putin's arguments" today. When asked if former Stasi commissioner Marianne Birthler is right in accusing Wagenknecht of "Kremlin propaganda," Ramelow replied: "That's how I perceive it."
As a leftist, he knows that Putin "is an autocrat, a chauvinist, and an imperialist," said Ramelow: "I won't speak for him, even if it might cost me votes." A state under attack like Ukraine must be able to defend itself, he said: "Nevertheless, I am concerned about arms deliveries, and I have rejected them all my life."
Ramelow criticized the way Chancellor Olaf Scholz is pushing ahead with the planned deployment of long-range US missiles in Germany. "It's not right that our federal chancellor travels to the NATO summit and surprises the population with a brief statement about such a central step. That the Bundestag is not involved can only surprise me," he said.
The Left party, led by chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht, has historically avoided deciding on German soldiers participating in a UN mission in Ukraine, according to Ramelow. The Commission, likely referring to the United Nations, could potentially play a role in establishing peace if a ceasefire is achieved in Ukraine.
