Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, CDU foreign expert Jürgen Hardt is calling for a tougher stance by the alliance against Russia concerning the war in Ukraine and demanding clear communication with China. Speaking to the press media group Funke, the Union faction’s spokesperson on foreign policy stated that the NATO gathering starting Tuesday must above all demonstrate political solidarity. “Moscow must have no doubt that support for Ukraine remains unwavering.”
The CDU politician argued that Russia’s strategy of attrition combined with targeted attacks on civilian populations is diminishing in effectiveness. He noted that simultaneously, Ukraine can begin to reassert its own priorities on the battlefield. Hardt believes allied nations should capitalize on this moment to collectively increase pressure on the Kremlin and lay the groundwork for serious peace negotiations.
Hardt also identified a need for action regarding China. The foreign expert stated that China plays a significant role in enabling Russia to continue its war of aggression. Therefore, NATO must speak plainly here as well: anyone supporting Moscow’s military infrastructure shares responsibility for the continuation of this conflict. Addressing this reality openly, he concluded, is not an act of escalation but rather one of “strategic honesty.”
