Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier described any proposed ceasefire in Ukraine now as “reckless.”
Noting that some Western officials are in favour of ending hostilities, he stressed that a truce would allow Russia to keep its forces in occupied parts of Ukraine.
In an interview with DW on Monday, Steinmeier expressed belief that “to establish a cease-fire at this point in time would essentially condone all of the injustice that has already taken place… so, sadly, I cannot say that I see any way out [of the war] at this point in time.”
Commenting on Germany’s position, he noted that the country did a lot of “rethinking,” reminding that Berlin was initially against providing weapons to Ukraine, but came under pressure and later changed its position.
“I’ve been to Ukraine as you know, and I can say the criticism that was being levelled against Germany over arms support has subsided and there is instead a great deal of appreciation today,” he pointed out.
The Ukrainian government disinvited Steinmeier in April, when he planned to visit the country, with Kiev stressing that he was not welcome due to his Russian-friendly position in recent years.
Steinmeier later stated that he made mistakes with regard to his stance on Russia and visited Kiev in October.
Stands with Ukraine
He stressed the importance of continuing to support Ukraine through the winter, warning that Russia’s strategy is “to hit the civilian population to grind down the entire country.”
Commenting on the German parliament’s plan to declare the Holodomor an act of genocide, he welcomed the move and reminded that the Soviet Union targeted Ukrainians.
“We must remember that it was the people of Ukraine who were the victims of that catastrophic famine,” he noted. “The catastrophic famine was not the result of failed harvests… but rather was a targeted strategy by the Stalin regime in 1932/33 to stave parts of the population of the then Soviet Union in order to make them pliable.”
Commenting on anti-lockdown protests in China, Steinmeier expressed support for the protests and pointed out “we still remember how much of a burden that was for many in Germany.”
“We can only wonder what a burden it must be for the people of China, where measures are far stricter and longer-reaching, even today,” he concluded.
