Overview

• Michael Kretschmer described Russia under Vladimir Putin as a current threat but stressed the need for eventual diplomatic reconciliation.
• He argued that earlier diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war could have saved many lives and called for reflection on missed opportunities.
• Kretschmer defended Germany's increased defense spending as critical for ensuring national security and long-term prosperity.
• He criticized Europe's marginal role in global diplomacy, contrasting it with the dominant influence of the United States in addressing the Ukraine conflict.
• Kretschmer emphasized that Germany's future prosperity depends on achieving both security and lasting peace.