Gerhart Baum does not believe that the war in Ukraine will end as long as Vladimir Putin is in power. The fact that his own party is not very visible on foreign policy issues hurts the former FDP interior minister.
Former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum has doubts as to whether the Ukraine war can be ended in agreement with the Russian President. “There is no way out with Putin,” said Baum on ntv’s “Frühstart” program. Putin broke a taboo by attacking Ukraine. Putin sees himself on a mission. He felt destined to restore Greater Russia. “Then he can’t get out anymore,” says Baum.
Baum wonders how one can build a lasting peace order with such a man. “I think that’s out of the question.” Baum expressly welcomed the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine. The country must be able to assert itself. In addition, the FDP politician supported the objective of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to strategically weaken Russia. “The Americans are absolutely right when they say we have to weaken Russia so that it is no longer expansive,” said the 89-year-old.
How did the FDP actually assert itself in the debate about the delivery of heavy weapons? Good, stated Baum. Above all, he paid tribute to the commitment of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the Defense Committee, who advocated robust support for Ukraine early on and vehemently. However, she is a defense politician and that shows that his party lacks foreign policy influence, said Baum. “The FDP has lost its votes as a force that should be taken seriously when it comes to shaping foreign policy,” complained the long-serving interior minister and later head of the German delegation to the UN human rights organization.
The lower visibility on foreign policy issues is also related to the offices in the current federal government, said Baum. But “the party can do that without appointing a foreign minister.” That is a deficit. In addition, Baum missed the Liberals’ passion for Europe. The FDP veteran warned that Europe is our future, and that must not go wrong.
