The call for peace by some well-known German social democrats and trade unionists, published in the “Berliner Zeitung” on Saturday, has sparked outrage in Ukraine. In the letter, Peter Brandt, initiator and son of former chancellor Willy Brandt, calls for a “quick truce” and the “road to negotiations”. The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, spoke of “pure cynicism”. Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk raged on Twitter: “Go to hell with your senile idea to achieve a ‘quick ceasefire’ and ‘make peace only with Russia’.”
“The Ukrainians reject this fringe. Period,” Melnyk continued. Makeiev told the dpa news agency that the call had only one purpose: “to cover up Russia’s crimes and with it the responsibility of the Russian regime”. The only possible call for peace is to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately withdraw from the entire territory, the Ukrainian diplomat stressed. “This peace call is not an April 1 joke. This is pure cynicism towards the numerous victims of Russian aggression.”
Focus on Brazil, China, India and Indonesia
In addition to Brandt, signatories to the call are ex-SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, former Bundestag chairman Wolfgang Thierse, former SPD federal director Klaus Uwe Benneter, ex-EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen and former ministers such as Hertha Däubler-Gmelin and Hans Eikel . On the trade union side, former chairmen such as Franz Steinkuehler, Jürgen Peters, Detlev Wetzel and Klaus Zwick (all IG Metall) have signed. They all call on Chancellor Olaf Scholz, together with France, to persuade the countries of Brazil, China, India and Indonesia to mediate in order to quickly reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. “It would be a necessary step to stop the killing and explore ways for peace. Only then can the road to a common security order in Europe be paved.
The incumbent party leader of the SPD, Rolf Mützenich, also expressed his support. “The call comes at the right time. After a year, we must not shrug our shoulders and put diplomacy aside,” he said, according to a preliminary report from the “Frankfurter Rundschau”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
