Overview

• Speaking on the Forum Studopolis podcast "Kaffee und Fluchen," the former chancellor gave his first substantial interview since stepping down in May.
• He said President Donald Trump’s diplomatic pressure helped produce a Gaza ceasefire and facilitated the release of hostages.
• He identified Hamas’s October 7 attack as the war’s starting point, called the current truce a significant step for Gaza’s civilians, and reiterated support for a two-state solution with a future Palestinian state.
• He described phone calls with Vladimir Putin as polite but argued the Ukraine invasion was long planned and amounted to "blanker Imperialismus."
• On German defense, he criticized the 2011 suspension of active conscription and expressed confidence that broad outreach would draw sufficient volunteers for service.