Stelzenmüller said he wanted European foreign ministers, heads of state and defense ministers to take a more decisive stance at the upcoming security conference in Munich and at the NATO summit in Washington in July. They must stand up and say that they understand that Europe has more to do. Europe is a region of 350 million people, a major economic power and needs to do more for its own economy and the security of the world.

Stelgenmüller is the director of the “Center for America and Europe” and is active in the “Brookings Institutions” in Washington, the most influential think tank in the American capital.

“Historic Decision in Washington”

Despite several compromise proposals from Democrats, Republicans ultimately rejected the aid package for Ukraine. For them, the Republican Party is firmly in the grip of the far right and Donald Trump, even if he is not even the party's presidential nominee. The rejection of the aid package also marked the end of McConnell's tenure as Republican Speaker of the Senate. That is why this is a historic decision.

This message was sent on February 10, 2024 in the Deutschlandfunk program.