Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Alliance 90/Greens) blames Russia's President Vladimir Putin for the failure of peace efforts in Ukraine so far. He is not prepared to even consider a ceasefire, she said at an election campaign event in Chemnitz. Germany must therefore support Ukraine in protecting its hospitals, nuclear power plants and cities. Baerbock spoke of the worst war crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine and recalled the fate of around 20,000 children abducted from the east of the country. It was important to stand up for humanity.
Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had repeatedly spoken out in favor of cutting back on arms deliveries to Ukraine and negotiations with Russia. He had also called for the damaged Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to be repaired as a prerequisite for the resumption of Russian gas supplies.
Kretschmer is a "foreign policy ghost driver", said Saxony's Justice Minister Katja Meier - a member of the Greens' top trio in the state election campaign: "We Greens stand by Ukraine." Her party will not waver in this stance, added parliamentary group leader Franziska Schubert.
