Christoph Heusgen on Germany's role in the Ukraine crisis and international conflicts | DW News

Angela Merkel's former foreign policy adviser and designated head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has called for international unity in reponse to the threat of Russia invading Ukraine in an interview with DW.

“What is very important now is that, as we see this danger, we know what happened in the past, that we react as the international community, very strong, very clear, that we send the right signals right now”, said Heusgen, who was also Germany’s Ambassador to the United Nations. He said that potential consequences to Russia’s actions should be made clear: “What we want this time is to have this very strong, massive reaction put into the window, so to speak, so that Russia knows exactly what happens if they actually take the step that Putin indicated they're ready to take.”

Asked about his interpretation of Russia's goals, Heusgen said he believes Russian president Vladimir Putin was afraid that the recent discontent of people in other post-Soviet countries such as Belarus or Kazakhstan could spill over into Russia, and that Putin was trying to “keep his people happy” with a “very nationalistic course”: "He's trying to reestablish, you know, a kind of 'Soviet Union Russia style'". In response, the international community needed to “stay tough and tell him that this is where the buck stops.”

Heusgen said he welcomed the coordination between Western and NATO partners. The Ukraine crisis showed how important the transatlantic partnership was, “when it comes to core security issues”. Germany had “every interest to continue to strengthen this.” Heusgen emphasized Germany had an important role to play in the crisis.

Follow DW on social media:

#Ukraine #Germany #MSC

[leonardmccannon]

This guy is a professional liar. He hasn’t got an ounce of objective perspective to share here.
Funny how the so called journalist doesn’t question a single disingenuous thing he says here.

[ScottPlayz]

Always good to hear from the guy who’s been catastrophically wrong about everything about how we can get out of the mess he put us in!

[neychev]

Can anyone open my eyes why Germany decided to close nuclear plants and fall victim to russian gas?!?

[Arthur-lqix]

He says one shouldn't "become too dependent on one country" when talking about China, but is forgetting the elephant in the room: how reliant Germany (and the whole of Europe) is on Russia for gas...

[attsealevel]

I live/work in Munich and am embarrassed for Germany. Now it won't even allow other NATO allies to help Ukraine (blocking Estonian artillery, for example). Germany promised reprisal if Estonia sent D-30 howitzers (that were actually made in Russia in the 1990's). They were stationed in former East Germany, but after German reunification, Berlin exported the guns to Finland, which then passed them on to Estonia in 2009. Real shame that Ukraine is being left out in the cold (esp when about 6.5 million of its citizens died in WW2).

[riariaria]

Since the Germans appear to be more than capable of mounting and paying for their own defense maybe the US should consider offering Poland and other Soviet Block countries our military forces that are currently stationed in Germany.

[CrazyLeiFeng]

8:33 "Germany has never been as active in Africa as we are now". Really?

[utopiandreamer]

😔 Germany learned the wrong lesson from the War. The opposite of war isn’t peace at any cost. The opposite of war is the understanding the other side will hit you where it hurts if you eff around

[KamiTenchi]

How anyone seen China's tensions with Taiwan lately?

[Nainara]

This was a very good interview. The journalist asked some really pointed questions about Germany's positions.

[tatradak]

You should of asked him why the British RAF don't fly over German airspace??

[kkmardigrce]

It is kinda sad to see people talk about the role of this or that European country instead of the role of the EU. We're far from united.

[Sofus.]

Quote "We have stopped the aggression" it is a very selective view. 🙄

[barryjulianwaldron]

The first casualty of war is TRUTH!
🦘🇦🇺

[TabithaTabCat]

All by design, I'm guessing Taiwan will fall soon.

[zidaneilyas]

All they do is talk and get paid huge salaries.

[bobtsering]

That’s what happens when they take without any consequences and they do it again.

[okramw]

But Russian promised to leave Ukraine alone after the cold War, if Ukraine would give up their nuclear weapons 🤔 & they did. So Russia is not playing fair! OMG!! 😮

[MariusBelea]

try UK & France as examples of how much more responsibility to take

[josemanueljara]

Is very usefull to remember history of the twentyeth century. Who invaded whom on those territories?