Germany serves as a potential battleground in a hypothetical European conflict, as suggested by authors Dohnanyi and Vad.

In a recent publication, Klaus von Dohnanyi and Erich Vad, two prominent German politicians, have issued a stark warning about the potential for war between Europe and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The duo, who served in various government roles including Minister of Education, State Secretary, Member of Parliament, and First Mayor of Hamburg, have expressed concern over the current Ukraine policy, which they believe threatens to lead Europe into a war with Russia.

Vad, a former military advisor to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, highlights that Ukraine is a central component of Russia's defense organization, and the Russians will never be indifferent to who sits in the government in Kyiv. He believes that around 70% of Ukrainians want peace, and the political legitimacy of President Zelensky is increasingly being questioned even in his own country.

Vad also warns that the Ukraine war could escalate and potentially spread to the rest of Europe. He recalls that in December 2021, Putin tried for the last time to solve the Ukraine question politically, but his demands for security guarantees were rejected, leading to the war. Putin, according to Vad, has no interest in a military confrontation with the West, his real problem is an aggressive Ukraine financed and incited by the West.

Dohnanyi, on the other hand, believes that one must talk to Russia about mutual interests to prevent war. He criticizes the internal political situation in the USA, suggesting that there are powerful anti-Russian forces that are not ready to make peace with Russia. He also questions the European proposals for a sustainable peace order, stating that they are largely unhelpful.

The neoconservative political grouping in the USA, which has significant influence on American foreign and security policy, supports a Russia-hostile policy of the USA. Dohnanyi believes that this grouping poses a significant threat to peace in Europe. He also commends the former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for declaring in the 2003 Iraq War that German foreign policy is not made in Washington, but in Berlin.

Both Dohnanyi and Vad suggest that parallel negotiations alongside weapons deliveries to Ukraine would be a more effective approach to resolving the conflict. They also advocate for Russia to receive security guarantees to prevent NATO from further expansion into Ukraine and Georgia.

Dohnanyi and Vad's book, "War or Peace. Germany at the Crossroads", published in August, suggests that Trump might be the last chance for peace in Europe. They believe that the American foreign and security policy establishment doesn't want peace with Russia right now, and the next three years might be our last chance.

However, Dohnanyi considers the Federal Government's warning of a potential Russian attack on a NATO member by 2030 far-fetched, due to the military balance of power not allowing it in the near or foreseeable future. He also criticizes Germany for not recognizing its great responsibility for peace in Europe, as the country has always been dependent on the US, and foreign policy decisions were often made in consultation with Washington.

Wolfgang Ischinger, the then-chairman of the Munich Security Conference, had warned in 2018 that Ukraine should not be taken into NATO. Dohnanyi and Vad support this view, suggesting that expecting Russia to withdraw from the occupied territories in Donbass is unrealistic.

In conclusion, Dohnanyi and Vad's book serves as a stark reminder of the potential for war between Europe and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. They advocate for a more diplomatic approach, with parallel negotiations and mutual security guarantees, to prevent a potentially catastrophic conflict.

Germany serves as a potential battleground in a hypothetical European conflict, as suggested by authors Dohnanyi and Vad.