BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The Greens member of the Bundestag Jürgen Trittin has defended the European sanctions against Russia because of the attack on Ukraine as powerful. “We reacted very harshly,” the foreign policy spokesman for his parliamentary group told Der Spiegel.
Trittin also defended the previous decision not to exclude Russia from the Swift banking communication system. “An immediate end to all payment transactions would not only mean that all Russians could no longer use their credit cards, and that transfers to relatives and civil society would no longer be possible,” he explained. “We would no longer pay our raw material bills and could no longer import anything. No aluminum for the auto industry, no gas, no oil, no coal.” That is more difficult for many than for Germany. It is now about getting gas, oil and coal from more different sources and expanding renewable energies and thus reducing dependency.
“What the EU decided in response to this attack is the toughest package of sanctions that has ever existed,” emphasized Trittin. “It’s right to decouple Russia’s banks from the financial market. We’re making major investments in the energy sector impossible. After all, Rosneft, Gazprom and Nova Tech are financing themselves through the capital market. And now there’s layer in the shaft.”
The war will have an impact on the first budget of the government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP, said Trittin. “The Bundeswehr’s equipment and capability deficiencies must be remedied, as must the deficits that we have in the areas of diplomacy and development cooperation.” That is already in the coalition agreement. In addition, Germany must improve its capabilities for joint self-defense in the NATO alliance, for example in air defense. “That will put the coalition ahead of discussions.” Trittin emphasized: “More money for external security in the current crisis situation does not fit with the dogma of the black zero.” There are “blatant equipment deficiencies” in the Bundeswehr.
The energy supply could also become more expensive, said Trittin. “We will also have to spend more money on coal, oil or gas, for example, if we decide to stop sourcing from Russia and instead from Colombia or Australia.”
In the worst case, Russian President Vladimir Putin would also attack NATO countries, said Trittin. “Then we are in World War III.”/hrz/DP/stk