Berlin, Germany – In a prelude to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Berlin on Wednesday, Sahra Wagenknecht, the leader of the Left, has called on Ukraine to rule out a future NATO membership. In an interview with the German newspaper Welt, Wagenknecht emphasized that the upcoming meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Zelensky should not be a “war summit” but rather a “compromise summit.”
Wagenknecht’s remarks centered on a crucial question in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. “The NATO question was the main reason for February 24, 2022, because the Russians do not want Western military bases and missiles on their border” she claimed, referencing the day Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
The Left leader views Ukraine’s orientation towards the West as a problem. “There will be no peace as long as NATO membership or the stationing of NATO troops in Ukraine remains on the table” Wagenknecht stated. “Not a ceasefire ultimatum, but a NATO renunciation would be the proof that Zelensky and the Europeans are seriously willing to negotiate.” She added that it is not only a matter of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate, but also whether the Ukrainian and European leaders are genuinely committed to talks.
Wagenknecht’s comments come as Chancellor Merz announced on Monday that there would be no restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to Ukraine. Prior to this, Merz, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, had set an ultimatum for a ceasefire and threatened potential new economic sanctions. Wagenknecht, however, believes this approach is misguided, stating that the ultimatums and sanctions of the Europeans in recent weeks have not been a negotiating offer, but rather a hindrance to potential peace talks.
Instead, Wagenknecht suggests that a Ukrainian renunciation of NATO could spark new negotiations. “With simultaneous security guarantees from states like China, such a willingness to renounce NATO could bring Putin to the negotiating table” she said. “At this meeting, it is also a question of whether Zelensky and the Europeans are genuinely willing to negotiate to end the bloodshed, or if they will only repeat unrealistic demands once more.