Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow has proposed the participation of German soldiers in a potential UN peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, contingent on a ceasefire. This suggestion marks a significant shift from the previous stance of his party, Die Linke.
Bodo Ramelow, the Prime Minister of Thuringia and a prominent member of Die Linke, has expressed support for the deployment of German soldiers to Ukraine as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission if a ceasefire is reached. In an interview with Tagesspiegel, Ramelow argued that Germany should be prepared to send Bundeswehr troops under a UN mandate to help stabilize the region. “We should be open to deploying Bundeswehr soldiers under a UN mandate in the event of a ceasefire,” he stated.
Ramelow’s stance represents a departure from the position historically held by his party. He criticized the influence of fellow party member Sarah Wagenknecht, accusing her of blocking the possibility of German participation in such a mission. Ramelow’s remarks underscore a growing divide within Die Linke on issues related to international security and foreign policy.
Sharp criticism of Wagenknecht and the role of China
Ramelow also addressed the broader geopolitical context, emphasizing the need for Europe to reassess its relationship with China. He suggested that China could play a crucial role in persuading Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. In a pointed critique of Wagenknecht, Ramelow accused her of echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arguments. He made it clear that, as a member of Die Linke, he views Putin as an autocrat, chauvinist, and imperialist, and he refused to support him, even at the risk of losing voter support.
Ramelow further stressed that any decisions regarding territorial concessions should be made solely by Ukraine, rejecting the notion that politicians like Wagenknecht or Oskar Lafontaine should have a say in the matter. When asked whether he agreed with former Stasi Commissioner Marianne Birthler’s accusation that Wagenknecht was spreading “Kremlin propaganda,” Ramelow responded, “I perceive it that way.”
