Russian expert at "Illner" convinced: Putin only wants to talk

Should the German Ministry of Defense provide military assistance to Ukraine in the fight against Russia, or should we continue on a diplomatic course with Putin? On this question, the opinions in the talk by "Maybrit Illner" differed widely.

While the new leader of the Greens, Omid Nouripour, wanted to rely entirely on diplomacy, defense expert Ulrike Franke actively demanded arms deliveries from Germany to Ukraine. The Russian Europe expert Vladislav Belov, on the other hand, claimed that Russia did not want a war at all.

These were the guests at "Maybrit Illner" on February 3rd:

Martin Schulz against arms deliveries

In recent weeks, the German government has fallen into disrepute with many allies because of its political stance towards Russia. A delivery of 5,000 helmets to the Ukraine seemed like a real meltdown to many in the current critical situation.

"Didn't anyone think it might be a bit embarrassing?" Maybrit Illner asked Martin Schulz right at the beginning of her show. The former President of the European Parliament admitted: "It is certainly the case that reducing the whole debate to 5,000 helmets is funny." However, one cannot afford such jokes at the moment.

In the debate about arms deliveries to Ukraine, Schulz took a clear position: "In this situation, we shouldn't be talking about arms deliveries, but about ways to achieve diplomatic calm."

The designated party leader of the Greens, Omid Nouripour, announced on "Illner": "Now is the time for diplomacy."

Does Ukraine have a right to guns?

A different opinion in the debate came from Kyiv. The Ukrainian publisher Kateryna Mishchenko called for a clear political position from Germany. The refusal to supply arms, Mishchenko criticized, would be interpreted in Ukraine as an alliance with Russia.

Norbert Röttgen granted the Ukraine the right to self-defence and thus also to weapons. Nevertheless, according to the current status, it would be better not to deliver weapons, he says. His justification: "Because Germany has special opportunities for talks with Russia."

Defense expert Ulrike Franke countered. She explained: "We make it a bit easy for ourselves in Germany when we say that supplying arms to Ukraine is an act of aggression."

Instead, in their view, the delivery of arms to Ukraine could even lead to deterrence instead of war. "The logic is that you are driving up the price of a possible attack for Russia," said Franke.

Vladislav Belov: Putin just wants to talk

Vladislav Below, director of the Center for German Questions and scientific director of the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, could not understand the arguments from the ZDF studio and called on the discussion partners: "Ladies and gentlemen, we should stop now do with it and move on to the objective realities."

The West is fundamentally misinterpreting Vladimir Putin's political goals. A return to the territorial power of the Soviet Union is not Putin's plan. Below lamented:

The Russian head of state is only interested in dialogue with the West. His behavior is simply aimed at getting the US and Europe to the negotiating table. He has now achieved this with his behavior.

So it's all much ado about nothing? On February 8, Olaf Scholz will fly first to the United States and then to Kyiv and Moscow to personally find out what Putin's real goals are. The trip met with goodwill and approval from the guests in the group of "Maybrit Illner".

According to the Ukrainian Kateryna Mishchenko, however, it would be much more important if Germany and the EU considered their own goals and pursued them - instead of just waiting until the aggressor finally revealed his.