In an open letter, the Halle-Saalekreis district craftworkers’ trade association in Saxony-Anhalt called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to stop all sanctions against Russia and to start negotiations to end the war against Ukraine. The open letter is available on the editorial network of Germany (RND) and has 16 signatories from all guilds.
“We would like to begin by emphasizing that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a clear violation of Article 2 of the U.N. Charter and is viewed and criticized by us as a serious crime,” the letter said. However, this war did not start on Feb. 24, 2022, the letter reads. In addition, the craftworkers’ association is “justifiably concerned. Concerned about the future of our children and grandchildren, worried about the continued existence of our businesses, and worried about our country.”
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The letter goes on: “We as craftsmen know from many discussions with our customers that the vast majority are not willing to sacrifice their hard-earned standard of living for Ukraine. It’s not our war either!”
According to a publication by Transparency International Germany, Ukraine will rank 122nd in terms of corruption in 2021, a fact the letter points to in supporting its argument.
“No other European country does worse here,” wrote the signatories, who state that under no circumstances can one speak of a flawless democratic state in the case of Ukraine. The signatories therefore ask: “And you want to put Germany at risk for this?”
Germany has seen inflation explode, with electricity prices tripling in a year as sanctions against Russia have led to a record increase in gas prices, There are now fears of mass bankruptcies, layoffs, and an energy crisis that could spiral out of control this winter.
