Kiesewetter noted that Germany had for years shown “arrogance towards Poland” on issues related to the past, which had created “huge distrust.” He emphasized that although it is impossible to compensate the trauma of the victims of World War II, Germany should provide financial compensation to those who survived the Holocaust and the repression against Poles. However, he pointed out that the issue of reparations is complicated and its reopening could trigger an avalanche of claims from other countries, which would be unbearable for Germany.
Read also: Germany is preparing for a possible conflict with Russia. Secret war plan revealed
Air defense as redress
“The fact that we waited so long created enormous distrust,” Kiesewetter noted, pointing to Germany's historical mistakes, such as collaborating with the Soviets in war crimes or ignoring Polish expectations. The CDU politician proposed that Germany consider taking over the costs of Poland's air defense as a form of partial compensation, emphasizing that these solutions should be consulted with Poland and not imposed.
Kiesewetter also referred to military cooperation, recalling that in 2022, Poland asked Germany to provide Leopard 2 tanks in exchange for transferring Polish T-72s to Ukraine. Berlin's response, limited to an offer to provide only 20 tanks, was a significant disappointment and contributed to Poland's decision to conclude contracts with South Korea.
Nord Stream “a huge mistake”?
The CDU expert also drew attention to the need to strengthen cooperation in the field of security, pointing to the possibility of joint actions to protect infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. He also emphasized that Germany could learn from Poland in terms of defense spending, pointing out that Poland allocates almost 5 percent of its budget for this purpose. GDP, while Germany will approach 2%. only in the 1930s
Kiesewetter did not spare criticism of German energy policy, calling the construction of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines a “huge mistake.” According to him, these projects, implemented only in consultation with Russia, threatened both Ukraine and the European Union's energy policy. The politician expressed the assumption that the Russians were behind the destruction of Nord Stream, and the narrative about the involvement of the Andromeda yacht was a “false flag operation.”
AfD a threat
The CDU politician also warned against the potential consequences of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) coming to power, which, according to him, could mean Germany leaving NATO, the European Union and the euro zone, as well as a return to the pro-Russian policy of the past. He pointed to the growing disappointment among German military and police officers, who are increasingly inclined towards pro-Russian views.
In the geopolitical context, Kiesewetter expressed concern about the decreasing commitment of the United States to the defense of Europe. He recalled that already in 2017, Donald Trump called NATO “obsolete”, which made him concerned about the future of the alliance. He noted that the US may perceive Europe as Russia's sphere of influence, which calls into question further support for the continent.
“We didn't do anything”
According to Kiesewetter, Russia is on the way to achieving its imperial goals, which include, among others: withdrawal of the former Eastern Bloc countries from NATO. To counteract this, Europe must increase support for Ukraine, including considering introducing its own troops on its territory. “Russia expected at the beginning of the war that we would cut off its communication lines to the Königsberg region. We did nothing. We didn't even think about it,” the CDU politician concluded.
Kiesewetter emphasized the need for greater German involvement in relations with Poland, as well as in the defense of European values in the face of the growing threat from Russia. He pointed to the need for greater historical sensitivity and drawing lessons from the past in order to build more partnership-based relations with neighbors.
