In 1980 Otto Schily was one of the founding members of the Greens, nine years later he switched to the SPD. Today, the former German interior minister accuses his former party - but not just theirs - of bellicialism. A perspective for Ukraine must also take into account Russia's interests.
Former Interior Minister Otto Schily warned against a one-sided Germany course towards Ukraine. "A bellicism has spread in Germany, which is risky," said Schily in an interview with the German Press Agency. "The Greens of all places are too one-sided," criticizes Schily, who co-founded the Greens and switched to the SPD in 1989. "There is too little thought about how can we get out of the conflict?" he said. "It is positive that Olaf Scholz is thinking about this," he said, referring to the Chancellor.
Schily, who turns 90 this Wednesday, was Federal Minister of the Interior from 1998 to 2005 during Gerhard Schröder's chancellorship. "I am unreservedly critical of the murderous war. But we must ask what prospects there are beyond supplying arms and donating money to Ukraine," said Schily. Constructive ideas are needed. "Necessary is political imagination."
Ukraine wants to remain independent. Everyone has to acknowledge that. "But at the same time it must be clear that one has to live with one's neighbors, including with Russia," said Schily. "Both sides have interests that must be taken into account." Russia will always remain a factor, also towards Europe. "We have to find a way to deal with the Russians." Schily pointed out the ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of Ukraine. "Multilingualism, including the Russian language, is an undeniable fact."
Advice from the sidelines is always accompanied by a question mark. "But a look at other countries shows that the interests of all sides can be safeguarded if a country remains militarily neutral," said Schily. With this, Schily positions himself against Ukraine joining NATO. He also sees EU accession as unrealistic - Schily recommends the "Swiss model" instead. Switzerland understood it in an exemplary way "to develop a free society with mutual respect for the different ethnic backgrounds and with military neutrality," he said. "A peace solution for Ukraine could take an example from the Swiss model." He doesn't see "how Ukraine's EU accession should work without the EU overstretching".
He hopes that the threads of talks between Ukraine and Russia have not been severed. This is shown by the recent exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war. The same applies to the USA and Russia - Schily referred to the agreement on joint flights to the international space station. He expressly warned that Germany would be overwhelmed economically. "It wouldn't do anyone any good, including Ukraine."
Schily also sees his longstanding rejection of the nuclear phase-out confirmed. "Now it's becoming even clearer that the complete abandonment of nuclear technology was foolish." Germany should no longer ignore nuclear technology innovations. "The complete departure from nuclear technology has put us in a highly risky situation economically." Due to the simultaneous phase-out of nuclear power and coal, Germany has become dependent on gas. At the same time, with the energy transition, the demand for electricity is increasing sharply, for example because of e-mobility.
