German celebrities call for a ceasefire

"In an open letter, prominent Germans call on "the West" to end the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations. They believe that it is impossible for Ukraine to regain lost territory.

In another open letter, German prominent figures have called on politicians to end the conflict in Ukraine through negotiations. In the appeal entitled "Armistice now!", published in the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit" on Wednesday, well-known German personalities such as the philosopher Richard David Precht, writer Juli Zeh and science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar call for a "concerted push" for negotiations.

Europe is faced with the task of restoring peace on the continent and securing it in the long term. According to the letter, this requires the development of a strategy to end the conflict in Ukraine as quickly as possible. The longer the current Western measures last, the less clear it becomes "which conflict goal is associated with them".

In addition, the celebrities question whether arms deliveries are the right way. A further continuation of the conflict in Ukraine would mean thousands more victims, it is said. The humanitarian emergency around the world - including the famine in Africa - could worsen. There is also the danger of a nuclear escalation. However, it also states: “Negotiations do not mean, as is sometimes assumed, dictating a surrender to Ukraine. There must be no peace dictated by Putin.”

Celebrities had already written an open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in April. In it, the SPD politician was asked not to deliver more heavy weapons to Ukraine. At that time, the feminist Alice Schwarzer initiated the letter, which was supported by 28 first signatories."