Otto Schily’s comments came in an interview with RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, Poland’s niezalezna.pl website reported on Tuesday.
The 90-year-old politician, who served as interior minister between 1998 and 2005, under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, said that Germany’s policy towards Ukraine is “too one-sided,” especially on the part of the Green party, according to niezalezna.pl.
“Increasingly there is glorification of war in Germany, which is risky,” Schily said, as cited by niezalezna.pl.
Need for ‘constructive ideas’
He added: “We don’t think enough about ways to solve this [Ukraine-Russia] conflict - but thankfully [Chancellor] Olaf Scholz does think about this,” niezalezna.pl reported.
Schily condemned “the murderous war” in Ukraine, according to the Polish website, but added there was a need for “constructive ideas” and for “asking ourselves what are the perspectives beyond supplying Ukraine with weapons and money.”
‘You have to live with Russia’
The former German government minister said: “Ukraine wants to remain independent and this needs to be recognised. But at the same time it must be clear that you have to live with your neighbours, including with Russia. Both sides have interests which should be taken into account.”
The veteran politician added that Russia would always remain a major player in relation to Europe. “We have to find a way to coexist with the Russians,” he stated, as quoted by niezalezna.pl.
Ukraine like Switzerland?
Schily also said that the best solution, given “the interests of all parties,” would be “for Ukraine to assume military neutrality, like Switzerland,” niezalezna.pl reported.
He added that for this reason, Ukraine should not enter either NATO or the European Union, according to niezalezna.pl.
Schily voiced hope that “the talks between Ukraine and Russia have not been broken off,” and that there was possibility for negotiations between the United States and Russia, niezalezna.pl wrote.
The veteran politician also warned that Germany’s renouncing of nuclear energy had been “unreasonable” as Berlin is also phasing out coal-based energy. As a result, Germany has found itself dependent on gas, which is “a very risky situation economically,” Schily concluded, as cited by niezalezna.pl.
Tuesday is day 146 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: niezalezna.pl, dziennik.pl