The SPD leadership is meeting today to discuss how to proceed in the Ukraine conflict. The UN Security Council is also dealing with the issue.
- Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* wants to travel to Kiev in the Ukraine conflict.
- Russia* drives more and more troops to the border with Ukraine. According to the USA*, Vladimir Putin* has gathered enough troops at the border to be able to take over the entire country.
- US President Joe Biden* has announced that he will be moving more troops to Eastern Europe.
- All information and news about the Ukraine conflict in our current live ticker.
Berlin – SPD leader * Lars Klingbeil has defended the attitude of his party and Chancellor Olaf Scholz * in the Ukraine conflict. “We are completely clear on that,” said Klingbeil on Monday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”*. “The escalation comes from Russia. We are absolutely clear that all options are on the table. But we are also clear that the task now is to organize peace.”
“When the Chancellor stands up and says that all options are on the table should Russia attack Ukraine’s territorial integrity, then that is clear and unequivocal,” said Klingbeil on Monday (January 31, 2022). “This is a clear announcement against Russia.”
Russia: The focus must be on a diplomatic solution
However, the focus must now be on finding a diplomatic solution in order to prevent an escalation. It’s about “having as many talks as possible and looking for diplomatic channels,” said the SPD leader. “I don’t want us now, through threats, through actions, to get into a situation in which suddenly – perhaps unintentionally – a war situation arises in the middle of Europe.”
| Russia: | Russian Federation |
| Population: | 144.1 million (2020) |
| Capital city: | Moscow |
| Prime Minister: | Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin |
Klingbeil reacted calmly to the statements made by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD)*, who had criticized Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens*) and complained of a “saber rattling” in Ukraine. “It shows how emotional the situation is right now. It’s about the question of how we can avert war in the middle of Europe,” said the SPD leader. Foreign Minister Baerbock has the “full support” of the current SPD leadership.
Ukraine conflict: SPD leadership discusses different attitudes towards Russia
“Many can express themselves, but we as the current SPD leadership make decisions together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz,” emphasized Klingbeil.
The Ukraine crisis recently revealed the conflict between different party currents in the SPD. While representatives of the left wing of the party continue to rely on relaxation, more conservative Social Democrats are calling for a tougher approach to Moscow. Meanwhile, the US also wants to discuss Russia’s “threatening behavior” in the UN Security Council. (afp/dpa/df) *fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubrics: © Efrem Lukatsky/dpa
