Former SPD leader and former Minister President of Brandenburg, Matthias Platzeck, has defended his personal trips to Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Speaking to the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Saturday, Platzeck explained that the purpose of his travels was to maintain connections and dialogue.
The trips, previously revealed through investigations by Spiegel, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung and the Russian opposition platform The Insider, reportedly number nine since the start of the conflict.
Platzeck stated that his motivations stem from a desire to explore pressing global issues, including how to end the ongoing war and shape the world order afterward. He questioned the prevailing approach of extensive military build-up and security against Russia, pondering whether the strategy of engagement and integration has become obsolete. He emphasized the importance of active diplomacy, arms control and disarmament in fostering global stability.
Platzeck acknowledged having “more questions than answers” and argued that fostering open discussion on these complex issues, free from accusations and premature judgments, would benefit societal cohesion.
He did not disclose specific details regarding the destinations of his trips or the individuals he met with in Russia. Platzeck clarified that he acted as a private citizen, emphasizing he had no official mandate or function. Speculation linking his contacts to the energy sector or the potential reactivation of the Nord Stream pipeline with American involvement was firmly rejected. He asserted that he had not discussed these topics with anyone, either in Russia or elsewhere and that his motivations are not driven by economic or personal gain.
