Europe is on the brink of a deep crisis caused by the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. More than 1,000 days into the war, thousands of people in Ukraine have lost their lives, cities have been destroyed and millions left homeless.
But the conflict is no longer just a problem between the two countries. Experts say that increasing arms supplies and political moves could lead to a wider war across Europe.
Tensions escalated when the U.S. provided Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of striking Russia, followed by similar moves by Britain and France. Germany is reportedly planning to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
But there are serious warnings that these moves could increase the risk of Germany becoming a direct party to the war. Experts stress that this could mean retaliation from Russia.
A group of 38 peace activists recently published an statement entitled ‘One Minute to Go — Prevent a Great European War’.
The signatories include historians, political scientists, artists, lawyers, and former ministers. The group makes an open appeal to political actors in Germany and European countries to start peace negotiations to avert the risk of nuclear war.
The statement reads as follows “No side can emerge victorious from this war. If the guns don’t fall silent, we will all lose.”
The statement stresses that arms aid only prolongs the war and that a ceasefire should be declared immediately, and negotiations should begin.
The peace group stresses that the peace plans promoted by countries such as Brazil and China could serve as an example. It also calls on Germany to be more cautious in its war policy.
Among the signatories of the text are the following names:
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Prof Dr Peter Brandt, historian, and broadcaster
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Reiner Braun, peace movement
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Andrea Breth, theatre director
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Prof Dr Christoph Butterwegge, political scientist
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Prof Dr Wolfgang Däubler, jurist
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Daniela Dahn, author
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Dr Petra Erler, advertising executive
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Dr Svenja Flaßpöhler, philosopher
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Dr Hajo Funke, political scientist
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Dr Peter Gauweiler, lawyer and former minister of the Bavarian state government (CSU)
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Wolfgang Grupp, businessman
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Dr Michael Hartmann, sociologist
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Henry Hübchen, actor
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Dr Elisa Hoven, criminal lawyer
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Dr Hans Joas, member of the SPD Commission for Basic Values
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Reinhard Klimmt, former minister (SPD)
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Uwe Kockisch, actor
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Prof Dr Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, publisher
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Oskar Lafontaine, former Prime Minister
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Detlef Malchow, entrepreneur
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Prof Dr Reinhard Merkel, philosopher of law
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Dr Hans Misselwitz, member of the SPD Commission for Basic Values
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Albrecht Müller, Publisher/NachDenkSeiten (SPD)
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Michael Müller, Friends of Nature Germany
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Willy van Ooyen, Peace Movement
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Dr Frauke Rostalski, philosopher of law
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Oliver Ruhnert has been a football manager for a long time (BSW)
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Dr Otto Schily, former Federal Minister of the Interior
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Michael von der Schulenburg, Member of the European Parliament (BSW) and former UN Deputy Secretary-General
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Alice Schwarzer, writer, and editor-in-chief of EMMA magazine
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Prof Dr Wolfgang Streeck, sociologist
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Günter Verheugen, former Vice-President of the European Commission
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Dr Sahra Wagenknecht, BSW President
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Dr Nathalie Weidenfeld, cultural scientist
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Hans-Eckardt Wenzel, singer-songwriter
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Katarina Witt, athlete
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Natascha Wodin, writer
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Dr Juli Zeh, author
