Saxony premier warns military victory over Russia unrealistic

The Prime Minister of German state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer (Christian Democratic Union, CDU), has said that defeating Russia on the battlefield is unrealistic and stressed the need to maintain diplomatic channels, including with Moscow, amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In an interview with Ostdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Kretschmer emphasized that “it will not be possible to defeat Russia on the battlefield,” making diplomacy a crucial component of Europe’s response. He argued that even during the conflict, lines of communication must remain open. While condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, he cautioned against the belief that security can be achieved solely by halting negotiations.

On the topic of sanctions, Kretschmer described them as “correct and necessary,” but said they must be designed to inflict greater harm on the targeted country rather than on Germany itself. He also criticized Germany’s energy debate as “excessively one-sided.”

“The question of whether it was really worth imposing sanctions on gas and oil supplies is also legitimate. It causes significant damage to Germany as an industrial hub,” he said.

Kretschmer did not rule out the possibility of restoring economic ties with Russia once the conflict ends. “Few people will say: when the war is over, we should no longer receive raw materials from Russia,” he noted.

He warned that Russia, not oriented toward Europe, will become “not safer, but more unpredictable,” and called for countries such as China, India, and other BRICS members to be involved in applying pressure on Moscow.

The comments come a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he does not expect a rapid end to the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that hostilities may continue until one side becomes exhausted.

By Vafa Guliyeva