The war criminal’s strategy in the Kremlin becomes clear: surround cities and starve until the suffering of the civilian population forces the soldiers to surrender. Anne Will is at a loss: “Putin is at war in Europe – how can he be stopped?”
The guests
▶︎ Annalena Baerbock (41, Green). The Foreign Minister demands without ifs and buts: “Attacks on civilian populations must be stopped!”
▶︎ Frans Timmermans (60). The Vice President of the European Commission calls Putin’s aggression “despicable”. He comes to the screen from Brussels.
▶︎ Andrij Jaroslawowytsch Melnyk (47). The Ukrainian ambassador is desperately appealing to the federal government to “finally stop the murder of thousands of civilians by rockets and the air force.”
▶︎ Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (55, FDP). The group leader fears: “We cannot intervene militarily without risking World War III.”
▶︎ Egon Ramms (73). The retired NATO general suspects: “Russia can only stop itself.”
There can no longer be any doubts about Putin’s goals, but the Zoff-O-Meter fears a dispute about the right way to rescue the victims.
Worst accusation
An ARD clip shows “Day 11 in Putin’s war”: Burning skyscrapers, a father sobs over his son’s corpse. Women, children and old people on the run. President Volodymyr Zelensky warns: “Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will be next, then Moldova, Georgia, Poland, up to the Berlin Wall…”
His harsh reproach to the politicians in the West: After the refusal of the hoped-for no-fly zone, the people in Ukraine would “die because of you too”. The Foreign Minister, connected to the studio, is visibly shocked: “Of course, such words hit your heart!”
Strongest Warning
“Dramatic, horrific images,” complains Baerbock. “Fathers mourning over the bodies of their children, a girl covered in blood on a hospital bed, that leaves no one indifferent. Those moments that break your heart! That also breaks my heart personally!”
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But: “Nevertheless, we have to keep a cool head,” the minister added imploringly. “A no-fly zone, that sounds right and also defensive, but it means that we would have to shoot down Russian planes with NATO planes!”
Most realistic perspective
“That would mean that we Germans would be directly involved in this war,” Baerbock said. “We have a responsibility for the people of Ukraine, but also for the millions of Europeans in our countries. Those are the moments when you can really only choose between plague and cholera.”
Her credo: “It is a responsibility that it does not lead to a third world war. We cannot be responsible for this war spilling over into Poland or the Baltic states.”
most difficult problem
Regarding Ukraine’s request for multi-purpose combat aircraft, helicopters or submarines, the minister said: “We never thought that this would come. Unfortunately we were all wrong. We were lied to by the Russian government. Mr. Putin wanted this war, whatever the cost.”
“The Ukrainian army can only use aircraft that are still of the type from the Soviet Union,” explains Baerbock then. “Very few countries in Europe still have that. The Poles for example. Preparations are underway as to how Poland could now deliver these aircraft without them being no longer defensible themselves.”
Main Announcement
Consequence, according to Baerbock: “The Poles will then need replacement aircraft for their army. And that’s exactly what we talked about in the NATO Council of Foreign Ministers and in the EU Council, and of course we’re also in very close contact with the Americans.”
“That means: Yes, we Germans also provide support in these areas,” the minister made unmistakably clear. “But we won’t be able to publicly announce everything we plan to do. Even with the rockets that we are providing, we will not be able to say exactly how they will be delivered.”
Clearest announcement
Baerbock promises: “Of course we will look at every point carefully. We always have to look at what we have ourselves, what we can get from others and how we do it all so that it can be used quickly.”
At the same time, she wants to “use all economic, financial and diplomatic channels to increase the pressure on the Russian center of power.”
“The Russian President sees that as aggression too,” she adds, “but what he’s doing” – now she takes a deep breath – “is aggression to the power of 1000!”
Crucial question of the evening
“Are you in favor of boycotting oil, gas and coal supplies from Russia?” the talk show host wants to know.
The minister doesn’t bat an eyelid, but she doesn’t say yes either: “A complete ban on imports of oil, gas and coal must last for months,” she points out instead. “It has to be well prepared.”
“So you don’t want that,” Will guesses.
“I didn’t say that!” Baerbock defends. The same applies to further bank freezes: “We are preparing intensively for this so that all countries can pull together at the same time and we can hold out as a world. We must do this together as a global community!”
Most disappointed comment
The ambassador does not want to use the fear of a third world war as an excuse: “This argument is unacceptable,” he says, because: “Mr. Putin threatened it a long time ago!” And he does, that means, what he does anyway wool.
“Now the Ukraine must be helped,” demands Melnyk, “and with everything you have.” He complains about the military aid from Germany: “Just an empty phrase. A week has passed and we have received 50,000 food packages for the army.”
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Then the Zoff-O-Meter starts
“We’re doing what we can,” asserts Lambsdorff. “But if Russia and NATO get into a fight, we’re on the brink of nuclear war!”
“If Putin wants this war,” the ambassador repeats, “then he will come to Germany, whether you want it or not.” Phew!
Most encouraging expertise
Could fighter jets turn the tide of war in Ukraine?” the talk show host wants to know. “You would play a role,” assures the general. Even if “Russia could certainly counteract this with a larger number of fighter planes”.
But, the old warhorse continued: “I remain convinced that Ukraine, the people and the armed forces can win this war. I believe that Russia has completely misjudged the will to fight and the morale of the Ukrainian people and soldiers.” Boom!
The ambassador assisted with success stories: In just ten days, the Russians had lost 280 tanks and 60 fighter-bombers – almost as many as in Afghanistan in ten years!
Most shocking realization
“The war can be continued by the people of Ukraine when the armed forces are basically no longer engaged in combat operations,” predicts the general, “and that’s what I expect.” Uff! partisan war!
The next ARD clip calculates that Europe’s consumers pay a billion euros for Russian energy supplies – a day! This is followed by a quote from the Polish Prime Minister: “Today it has to be said that the blood of innocent people also flows through these pipes.”
“data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/das-thema-bei-anne-will-anne-will-ist-ratlos-putin-fuehrt-krieg-in-europa–wie -is-he-stoppable–919b7bd6574f4776ba6faad0bf45e0cb-79373628/Bild/3.bild.jpg”/> The topic at Anne Will: Anne Will is at a loss: “Putin is at war in Europe – how can he be stopped?”Photo: ARD