Publicist Alice Schwarzer and left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht are writing a "Manifesto for Peace" together. A large rally is now planned in Berlin. Thousands of participants are expected. Before the start, Schwarzer denies a lack of demarcation against rights.
Shortly before the "Peace in Ukraine" demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Alice Schwarzer rejected the accusation that she had not sufficiently differentiated herself from right-wing extremists. "Of course we will take action against any kind of right-wing extremist propaganda on the square," assured the women's rights activist. Both the left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht and she stand for the opposite of right-wing politics. They campaigned for social justice, for peace and against violence.
According to the police, 10,000 participants have registered for today's rally. Two weeks ago, Schwarzer published a "Manifesto for Peace" together with Wagenknecht. In it they appeal to Chancellor Olaf Scholz to "stop the escalation of arms deliveries" and to "lead a strong alliance for a ceasefire and peace negotiations".
Scholz rejected the appeal. "I do not share the conviction of this call," he said on the ZDF program "Maybrit Illner". Russian President Vladimir Putin would currently only accept an unconditional surrender from Ukraine. "The moment that opens up a perspective for peace must first come about," said Scholz.
Schwarzer said the "Manifesto for Peace" was signed by 600,000 people within two weeks. "So we're well on the way to becoming a real citizens' movement. So I'm really surprised and disappointed that the chancellor doesn't say more than that the appeal doesn't convince him."
Actually, she appreciates Scholz, especially his cautious attitude in the Ukraine war. She is all the more astonished that he does not seem to take the concerns of so many people seriously. "It's about the survival of mankind," said Schwarzer. "UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said we went into the world war with open eyes."
The 80-year-old editor of Emma magazine also denied that she was generally opposed to arms sales to Ukraine. "But the arms deliveries must go hand in hand with diplomatic efforts," she emphasized. "Even leading military leaders say that we have a stalemate and that neither side will be able to clearly win this war. Then it is a matter of humanity not to keep prolonging the war."
It is absolutely not true that Sahra Wagenknecht and she wanted to accept a capitulation from the Ukraine. "But after a year of death and destruction, I also ask: What is stopping us from starting negotiations now instead of waiting three years?"
