News / Brèves Back to previous selection / Retour à la sélection précédente Retired German General Harald Kujat Calls for DE-Escalation 5 April 2014 (LPAC)—In an interview published in the April 3 issue of the German daily tabloid Bild, retired German Gen. Harald Kujat called for a de-escalation of the conflict between the West and Russia. Kujat served as Chief of Staff of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, from 2000 to 2002, and as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 2002 to 2005. In the interview, Kujat criticized NATO commander Philip Breedlove for escalating the conflict: "Breedlove is an American. It should be noted that the Americans expressed themselves at the beginning relatively moderately, but then sharpened the tone. I regard that as a big mistake. "One will not achieve the goal of preventing the occupation of Eastern Ukraine through escalation, but rather only through DE-escalation," Kujat said. "One must bring the Russians to the negotiating table. By escalating one will only encourage radical forces, because the latter will then believe that NATO is on their side." Kujat was asked: But aren’t sharp warnings necessary to stop Russia? He replied: "If NATO behaves like a lion, in the worst case it will make a fool of itself. For it is completely clear: If Russia invades Eastern Ukraine, the West can do nothing for Ukraine, just as after the annexation of Crimea by Russia. NATO would not be able to defend Ukraine at all. "A Russian invasion into Eastern Ukraine would also not be a NATO alliance case," i.e., a situation which would require a NATO response. Kujat stated: "Anyone who wants to risk a military conflict would have to be an imbecile. Russia is again very strong militarily and the existing strategic situation is on Russia’s side. In addition, Russia is still the second nuclear-strategic superpower after the U.S.A. A military dispute with Russia in Europe would be total madness. "Russia wanted Crimea. Now it has it. The West will not be able to change that. Furthermore, Russia wants Ukraine to become a federal structure and not to be a member of NATO. The challenge is therefore to find an arrangement in which Ukraine, the West and Russia can live. That will only be found at the negotiating table, but most certainly not through escalation." [William F Wertz]