Feminist Alice Schwarzer, science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar and writer Martin Walser are just three prominent names among many who are now warning of a third world war in an open letter. Her letter to Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz contains an appeal to do everything possible for a ceasefire. One should not offer Russian President Vladimir Putin any motive to expand the war and what he calls the “manoeuvre”.
The open letter was signed by 28 people, including the singer Reinhard Mey, the legal philosopher Reinhard Merkel, the cabaret artists Gerhard Polt and Dieter Nur, and the writer Juli Zeh. It was published on the website of the German magazine Emma and is open for signature by the general public. The signatories warn that the “risk of this war escalating into a nuclear conflict” should not be taken into account.
On Thursday, the German Bundestag confirmed the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine by a large majority. So far, the German Chancellor has refrained from doing so. While others have previously criticized Olaf Scholz’s reserved attitude, those who signed the letter are demanding that he return to her. The letter says: “We therefore hope that you will remember your original position and will not, directly or indirectly, supply any more heavy weapons to Ukraine. On the contrary, we urge you to do everything you can to ensure that a ceasefire can be reached as soon as possible; to a compromise that both sides can accept.”
