Following the recent local elections in three German states, the premiers of Saxony and Brandenburg, alongside the leader of the Christian Democratic Union of Thuringia, have called for a more proactive diplomatic role for Germany in efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. “We want Germany to assume a more active diplomatic role in close coordination with its European neighbours and partners,” asserted the heads of the local governments—Michael Kretschmer (CDU), Dietmar Woidke (SPD), and Mario Voigt, a candidate for the position—in a joint article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
They emphasised that a strong and united alliance is essential to bring Russia to the negotiating table, noting that “Germany and the EU are still approaching this path too hesitantly.” Additionally, the trio underscored the importance of heeding the perspectives of eastern neighbours. “It would be prudent for us Germans to listen to our eastern partners, such as Poland and the Baltic states, on fundamental issues of security and peace,” they stated.
However, as reported by the German publication RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, politicians from Poland and the Baltic states adopt a significantly tougher stance towards Russia, viewing it as a direct military threat shaped by their historical experiences, in contrast to Germany’s more measured approach.
In this context, Kretschmer, Woidke, and Voigt find themselves increasingly reliant on the support of Sahra Wagenknecht’s Alliance (BSW) to form a coalition following the elections in their states. This dependence entails opposing the proposed deployment of additional American missiles in Germany and refraining from endorsing arms supplies to Ukraine.
“Of course, I don’t agree with all the statements. But this is, finally, a nuanced article that genuinely discusses how we can end the war, rather than perpetually demanding more weapons and military victories for Ukraine from a high moral ground, which everyone now knows is unlikely,” Wagenknecht remarked regarding the article in Der Spiegel.
The day prior, on German Unity Day, during a peace demonstration, the politician reiterated her call for negotiations with President Putin. “I am profoundly irritated when we are constantly lectured on great morality and told we must not engage with Putin for ethical reasons. For me, any politician who initiates a war is a criminal. But what about numerous American politicians responsible for countless conflicts over the years, leading to millions of deaths? Are they not criminals?” she was quoted as saying by the German publication Frankfurter Rundschau.
Wagenknecht further accused the German government of blindly adhering to Washington’s directives. “We are once again confronted with the prospect of deploying American medium-range missiles in Germany. My God, this is madness. We must not continue down this path. What is unfolding is profoundly dangerous,” she remarked.
Previously, Wagenknecht asserted that Putin is justified in rejecting NATO’s expansion, as reported by The New York Times. She contended that this expansion has not guaranteed peace; rather, it has exacerbated tensions.
German media speculate that the outcomes of coalition formation negotiations will have detrimental consequences for both Ukraine and Germany as a whole, given that both key parties in the Bundestag support Ukraine.
Wagenknecht is a former communist who has been a prominent figure in German ultra-left politics for nearly 30 years. Last year, she distanced herself from the party Die Linke, which she had long dominated, and established her own party bearing the same name.
