Roger Köppel: „Wir sind ganz klar Kriegspartei!“

Germany and Switzerland’s Role in the Ukraine War

Roger Köppel argues that Germany and Switzerland are already parties to the Ukraine war—not only through weapons deliveries and financial support, but also through sanctions and economic warfare. He warns that involvement has expanded gradually, from non-lethal supplies to tanks and discussions of longer-range weapons, and that such escalation can become difficult to control. In his view, Germany risks becoming a battlefield in a wider European conflict.

Köppel criticizes European leaders for treating confrontation with Russia as a moral crusade instead of pursuing diplomacy based on national interests. He argues that peace in Europe cannot be achieved without Russia and that sanctions and energy policies are harming Europe, particularly Germany, by raising costs and weakening competitiveness. He also warns that European politicians may feel emboldened to intensify support for Ukraine following Trump’s midterm losses, potentially undermining opportunities for negotiations.

Trump and European Politics

The discussion covers Donald Trump’s election setback and foreign policy. Köppel says media coverage portrayed the midterms as an impending catastrophe, while Trump responded by congratulating Democrats and presenting himself as undeterred.

Although Köppel criticizes Trump’s protectionism and alleged self-enrichment, he credits him with challenging political elites, confronting what he sees as ideological excesses, and restarting diplomacy with Russia. He worries that Trump’s opponents in Europe may focus on his defeat rather than reassessing their own policies.

Germany’s Political Climate

Köppel questions whether Germany’s political and media environment permits genuine scrutiny of government policy. He says critics are too readily branded as pro-Putin, extremist, or conspiratorial, and sees this as a threat to democratic debate.

He defends the legitimacy of AfD election victories as expressions of voters’ choices, while criticizing what he describes as unequal treatment of political movements and tolerance of left-wing political violence. He portrays Germany’s established parties, especially the CDU, as disconnected from voters and argues that public frustration is growing.

The Middle East

Köppel regards the Middle East conflict as grave but less likely than the Ukraine war to trigger a world war. He discusses the religious and historical dimensions of the Israel–Iran conflict while cautioning against simple good-versus-evil narratives.

He considers a US nuclear strike on Iran possible but unlikely, and says the danger differs from that posed by a nuclear power that feels militarily cornered.

Contributors

• Dominik Kettner: Host
• Roger Köppel: Guest; publisher and editor-in-chief of Weltwoche

The interview ends with Köppel’s appeal for Germans to recognize the risks of escalation and choose leaders who favor peace.