"Anne Will" on the Ukraine war: fuel prices on the one hand, human lives on the other?

In the political talk Anne Will (ARD) it becomes clear what a crucial test politics is in after Putin’s attack on Ukraine.

Berlin – Bombed apartment blocks, devastated kindergartens, destroyed hospitals: Anne Will began her program on ARD with terrible pictures, evidence of the work of a mass murderer named Vladimir Putin. For almost three weeks, the tyrant in the Kremlin has had neighboring Ukraine reduced to rubble, driving his own country into isolation. “Attack on Ukraine – how can Putin’s war be ended?” was the topic at Anne Will’s, and the question may have aroused the suspicion that a group of know-it-alls in a comfortable armchair were being taught as well as arguing about theory, that’s how it was but a thought-provoking and thought-provoking debate, at the center of which was the question of the gap between rationally determined and morally guided political action.

That was initially due to the first guest. Robert Habeck (Greens) was involved, and his defensive way of arguing, which names difficulties and makes the process of consideration transparent, stands out pleasantly from the apology routine of his predecessor. In response to Anne Will’s question as to whether the federal government was not being selfish in rejecting an embargo on oil and gas from Russia, he explained that it was a matter of being able to stick to the measures that were decided on in the long term. Otherwise there would be a risk of delivery disruptions, mass unemployment and poverty. We would also feel the sanctions that have already been decided, for example through extremely high heating costs: “The bill is not net zero.”

“Anne Will” (ARD) on the war in Ukraine: Putin’s current power strengthened

Germany is seen as a brake by some states because it is not complying with the demands made by the terrible suffering of the Ukrainians to stop oil and gas imports from Russia. Two guests from Ukraine criticized this more or less diplomatically at Anne Will (ARD). Katya Petrovskaya tried to make it clear that not only her compatriots, but all of us were at war. She opposed the argument that possible escalations (such as those feared in the West through the establishment of no-fly zones or the delivery of more and more powerful weapons) must be prevented. “What else has to happen?”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba went even further. Germany has contributed to strengthening Putin’s current power. For example, the Bosch Group sold military equipment to Russia. On the one hand, however, he hopes that Germany will deliver arms and, on the other hand, that the country will also take a leading position with regard to sanctions and not act as the main brake as has been the case up to now. “You should correct your mistakes.” Especially since Ukraine is not Putin’s ultimate goal. Surprisingly, Habeck also said: He doesn’t see “that it will stop after Ukraine”. And Roderich Kiesewetter was able to report on the fears of Moldova, which had already experienced a Russian-dominated secession with Transnistria.

War in Ukraine: The consequences of an embargo tend to have a long-term effect

When he called for an embargo, the CDU parliamentarian referred to a survey that showed that 55 percent of Germans were in favour. A questionable argument, said Lars Klingbeil (SPD) to Anne Will (ARD), who referred to the fear of increased petrol prices. Kiesewetter’s party colleague Tobias Hans, head of state in Saarbrücken, had made a name for himself with a video at a gas station. Klingbeil asserted that an immediate embargo would cause “massive damage” to the Federal Republic.

Claudia Major confirmed that the consequences of an embargo tend to have a long-term effect. “Can we hold out longer?” Otherwise, the government threatens to lose the support of the voters. That was reminiscent of the Merkel government’s fear of the population on the subject of migration, who had to be “taken along”. Germany still controlled by fear?

Katja Petrovskaya found it difficult to bear these considerations on ARD: fuel prices on the one hand, human lives on the other? A quick embargo could break Putin’s back. She had very specific fears for her city of Kyiv, which might be threatened with immediate attack in the Ukraine war. If you hesitate, you will pay even more dearly, because Putin only understands strength. And: “Democracy is always weaker than tyranny”.

Hopefully not this time. (Daland sailors)