The head of the German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Armin Laschet (CDU), is advocating for the re-establishment of direct communication channels with Russia, citing a concerning reliance on the United States to relay European policy to the Kremlin. In an interview with “Welt” Laschet expressed the belief that the current situation, predicated on a lack of official dialogue with Moscow, is unsustainable.
“Currently, the transmission of European decisions to Moscow is dependent on the Americans” Laschet stated. “That is not a good state of affairs for the long term”. While acknowledging the significance of the upcoming EU summit and the hope for European solidarity, Laschet pointed to the problematic situation where American diplomats are effectively acting as intermediaries for European policy towards Russia, highlighting a potential strategic vulnerability.
The contentious topic of accessing Russian assets to benefit Ukraine is also a source of concern for Laschet, recognizing the complex debate ahead. While acknowledging resistance from countries like Hungary and Slovakia, he underscored the need for commitment from major European nations – France, Spain, Italy and Poland – to guarantee the arrangement’s viability. “They must say, ‘We guarantee, if things go wrong,'” he explained, emphasizing the critical absence of such assurances.
Laschet cautioned about the potential financial repercussions for German taxpayers, warning against the illusion of straightforward asset seizure. He clarified the proposed plan involves utilizing Russian assets as collateral for bonds, predicated on the assumption that Russia will eventually pay reparations. However, he openly questioned the feasibility of this assumption, stating that if Russia is unlikely to fulfill such obligations, member states would be forced to act as guarantors, ultimately placing a burden on taxpayers. “That’s what Belgium expects. For the German taxpayer, this is certainly a quarter of the entire sum we would then have to provide”. He further questioned the willingness of member states to embrace such a commitment and to assume the financial risk associated with guaranteeing these bonds, a question that currently hangs over the plan’s prospects.