German minister slams fellow Social Democrats over Russia stand-off
"This position paper amounts to a denial of reality," said Pistorius, one of the leading figures in Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), the current junior partner in the coalition government.
"It exploits the desire of the people in our country for an end to the terrible war in Ukraine, for peace," he told dpa.
Prominent SPD figures signed a manifesto calling for diplomatic talks with Russia, in what appears to be turning into a stand-off with party leadership over the government's defence policy.
Germany is the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine behind the United States.
In a process initiated by the previous SPD-led administration, the new German government, in office since May 6, has vowed to boost military expenditure and is pushing for a massive hike to NATO defence spending in light of Russia's growing expansionist ambitions.
SPD lawmakers up in arms
The position paper, which has been made available to dpa and has been signed by more than 100 people, laments a "compulsion to increase armament and prepare for a supposedly imminent war."
"Alarmist military rhetoric and huge armament programmes do not create more security for Germany and Europe, but lead to destabilization and a strengthening of the mutual perception of threat between NATO and Russia," the document states.
While it is unclear whether all signatories are members of the SPD, prominent party figures including Rolf Mützenich, the former leader of the parliamentary group, former party chief Norbert Walter-Borjans, and foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner are among them, as are several federal and state lawmakers.
Pistorius finds clear words
Dubbed "Manifesto," the paper could cause a stir at the SPD party conference scheduled for later this month, where delegates are set to elect a new leadership following the disastrous showing in February's parliamentary elections.
Defence Minister Pistorius said that while he shared the wish for peace, Russian President Vladimir Putin was rejecting offers from Ukraine for an unconditional ceasefire.
"He breaks off negotiations. And when he does negotiate, he simultaneously bombs cities in Ukraine with even greater severity and brutality." This demonstrates that Russia does not want peace, or only on its own terms, he noted.
Putin has thrown years of diplomatic mediation attempts to the wind, the minister argued.
"He is pursuing a strategy of confrontation. Not us," Pistorius said, accusing the authors of the manifesto of disregarding the circumstances.
Trouble on the horizon?
Coming off the heels of leading a squabbling three-party coalition, the SPD, one of Germany's two traditional mainstream forces, was relegated to third place behind the conservative bloc and the far-right Alternative for Germany.
The party conference will be preceded by the NATO summit in The Hague, where member states are expected to agree on a significant hike in defence expenditure.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative, is pushing for a new target for NATO members to spend at least 3.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, with an additional 1.5% on infrastructure.
The manifesto's signatories call for "a return to dialogue with Russia once the guns fall silent, including on a peace and security order for Europe that is supported and respected by all."
They argue that genuine confidence-building measures must be preceded by a cautious resumption of diplomatic contacts.
They also oppose the stationing of new US mid-range missiles in Germany, as well as raising NATO defence spending to the target advocated by Merz.
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