A Veteran Politician's Blunt Response to SPD's "Peace Manifesto"
"This statement is asserting that what is being discussed is not a matter of contrasting views, but rather a settled fact or event in the past."
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link **Former SPD Bigwig Slams Peace Proposal as "Historical Distortion"
ntv.de Exclusive Interview Former SPD Foreign Policy Architect Michael Roth Unleashes on Party Colleagues
The SPD has been in a heated debate following the publication of their so-called peace manifesto, which proposes reversing their armament policy and seeking rapprochement with Russia. When confronted with this controversial document, long-time SPD foreign policy expert, Michael Roth, showed little minced words, expressing outrage, especially at his former colleague, Rolf Mützenich.
ntv.de: Ralf Stegner, Rolf Mützenich, and many other SPD politicos have been championing a different game plan in peace and security. What was your initial response to the manifesto?
Michael Roth: Honestly, I wasn't able to believe it initially, hoping our progressive SPD had advanced more than this by now. We enacted a remarkable and self-critical resolution on foreign and security policy at the SPD party conference in December 2025. During that time, Rolf Mützenich delivered a speech that didn't match the resolution and earned a standing ovation. At that point, I realized something wasn't right. The SPD leadership must admit their inaction, acknowledging the imbalance between resolution and party sentiment since they failed to continue the debate and instead shoved it under the rug.
A Man of Many Years in Public Service Michael Roth, a leading member of Germany’s Bundestag from 1998 to 2021, served as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the last legislative period. He represented the north Hessian constituency of Hersfeld-Rotenburg Werra-Meißner district until 2021. From 2013 to 2021, Roth served as State Minister for Europe in the Foreign Office, having proven himself in various roles in domestic and international politics. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Roth has been one of the SPD's most vocal proponents of military support for Ukraine. Despite facing criticism, he decided not to run in the latest federal election. On September 18, 2023, his book "Zones of Fear. About Life and Passion in Politics" will be published.
The manifesto suggests negotiations with Russia and dismisses a lack of attempts for diplomatic de-escalation of the war against Ukraine. How do you feel about that?
Every contribution to the discussion is valuable as we need to tackle the pressures of armament spending. Defending our nation at 5% of our GDP involves an enormous sum. Yet, the manifesto is not a debate contribution; it is historical distortion. The authors perpetuate a narrative that Russia isn’t the main aggressor in this war and that Western powers haven't made enough efforts for dialogue with Putin.
Is that, in fact, the case?
That couldn't be more true now: In the last few weeks, countless attempts to reach Putin at the negotiation table have failed. The US government has squeezed Ukraine for agreeing to a ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has basically fulfilled every US demand. Meanwhile, Putin continues to bomb more and more civilian targets in Ukraine. It leaves me stunned that the manifesto ignores all these efforts and diplomatic measures pursued by German foreign and security policy.
Politics "Releasing the Stranglehold" "Manifesto": SPD Politicians Urge a U-turn in Foreign Policy and Talks with Russia
Gracing the manifesto, Russian narratives enjoy increasing prevalence among SPD members as well as the entire German populace. It is claimed that Russia's security interests have been disregarded. That's complete hogwash! And behind it lies the laughable concept of limited sovereignty. Denying other nations like Ukraine full self-determination is not modern or befitting an internationalist party like the SPD.
Don't they mere echo widespread sentiments? Many are having a hard time envisioning Russia attacking Germany.
That's a nationalistic rhetoric that's meaningless if Lithuania or another country is targeted instead. It's an arrogant and self-serving abandonment of NATO's mutual defense commitment, having greatly benefited Germany for years. Focusing on direct relations between Berlin and Moscow, ignoring the interests of our Central European allies, is a failed approach. This policy has already backfired spectacularly, from Russia's war on Georgia to the annexation of Crimea in 2014. This approach has severely dented Germany’s standing among allies, particularly those in the East.
Early Beginnings Fiedler in ntv Early Start SPD Paper on the Kremlin "Troublesome and Provocative" to SPD Colleagues The longstanding SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich, a key player in the Ampel years, is one of the signatories.
I am puzzled to see Rolf Mützenich, a former SPD faction leader of a government supported by his own party, aiming to undermine it in such a manner. I also find it irresponsible that such an influential politician - once accusing me of straining the unity of the party with me - labels this contribution as simple free speech.
The SPD Federal Party Conference is drawing closer. Lars Klingbeil, the incumbent chair, has worked tirelessly to redefine the SPD's foreign policy, contradicting what Mützenich and Stegner demand. What do you think will happen within the internal SPD debate?
It must have consequences. I anticipate a broad national debate which our party, the SPD, must oversee. We cannot ignore or brush off such positions as the manifesto presents. We must engage it with our thoughts and facts. I hope the Willy-Brandt House acknowledges this disruption instead of suppressing the dialogue. In a party composed mainly of members aged 60 or over, the manifesto wins wide traction amongst older politicians. Thus, top SPD figures, involved in the government and leading our party, must now stand by their beliefs and convictions.
SPD Faces Consequences of Failed Campaign The SPD's election approach, riddled with fear, ultimately cost the party dearly. Promises of significant support to Ukraine alternated with warnings of military escalation. The opposition alliance, including the Union and Greens, ran on more ambitious calls to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Those rejecting this backing have voted for AfD and BSW. The SPD has lost. Post-election, I can only advise the SPD to adopt a clear stance and find opportunities to strengthen Germany’s security without compromising our educational, social, and infrastructural systems.
Sebastian Huld's Interview with Michael Roth
Source: ntv.de
- Rolf Mützenich
- Ralf Stegner
- SPD
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
- Attack on Ukraine
- Michael Roth, a seasoned politician with years in public service, expressed his dismay over the SPD's peace manifesto, which suggests negotiations with Russia and dismisses a lack of efforts for diplomatic de-escalation of the war against Ukraine. He criticized the manifesto as a historical distortion that disregards Western powers' attempts to engage Putin in dialogues.
- The SPD's peace manifesto is misguided and dangerous, according to Roth, as it ignores the efforts made by German foreign and security policy to de-escalate the tension and protect Ukraine. In addition, he argued that the manifesto's discussion of limited sovereignty and disregard for NATO's mutual defense commitment is reckless and undermines the alliance that has benefited Germany significantly for many years.
