German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/54,
pp. 5873-5874.
Herr President. Ladies and gentlemen.
Seldom have the hallowed principles of our post-1945
self-understanding been so mercilessly sacrificed on the altar of a false Realpolitik: We deliver no weapons to
areas of tension. We defend only ourselves and our NATO partners. And at least:
Sanctions are not allowed to more harm us than those sanctioned. – All blown
away, all is yesterday’s snow.
We have long since become party to a confrontation which
does not concern us, and each day we become it more. We are sliding on a steep
plane into participation in a conflict which is not ours. It is simply not true
that in the Ukraine our freedom is defended,
Dietmar Nietan (SPD): Of course!
that Herr Putin, as per the Ukrainian President, wants to
again erect the Berlin Wall.
Yes, the Ukraine defends itself in a post-Czarist and
post-Soviet conflict.
Johann David Wadephul (CDU/CSU): A Wagenknecht speech, you are giving here!
Yes, the war is counter to international law and Putin’s
goal of a reconstruction of the old Great Russia is out of date. Yet it is not
our conflict. It touches on no German interests,
Bengt Bergt (SPD): It is not so!
the consequences however very much so. We most feel our
sanctions against Russia. If oil and gas become unaffordable, it is because we,
as Frau Wagenknecht in this place correctly stated,
Johann David Wadephul (CDU/CSU): See! Horseshoes!
are conducting an economic war against Russia and deny to
ourselves an undertaking of Nord Stream 2. We have placed ourselves, ladies and
gentlemen, on one side and must now unfortunately live with the consequences.
The Union now wants to go a step further and make us a war
party with the delivery of heavy weapons. That is surely thus irresponsible because
it would be our duty in all diplomatic channels to limit the war so as to end
it, just after the latest developments of the partial mobilization.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP): Yes, an additional promotional tour in the eastern Ukraine! Didn’t you send people there?
The chancellor has said from here, Putin is not allowed to
win this war.
Marianne Schieder (SPD): He is right!
To that, I add: He is also not allowed to lose it;
Sara Nanni
(Greens): Nevertheless, he must.
Bengt Bergt (SPD): He will lose it!
since an atomic power has the means to avert this defeat.
President Biden’s concern is thus justified and we should take it seriously. We
are therefore not allowed to fan the flames, but we need to help stamp them
out.
The delivery of heavy weapons does the opposite, ladies and
gentlemen.
From Otto von Bismarck originates the observation – cite:
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP): Now comes the poor Otto!
It is easy for a statesman…, to sound the war trumpets with the popular winds and thus warm himself at his fireside. Yet woe to the statesman who in this era seeks a war for a reason which is not still valid after the war.
Herr Wadephul, yours unfortunately is not.
I am grateful.
[trans: tem]
