FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Berlin, Germany, August 16, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

The Halle-Saalekreis district trade association in Saxony-Anhalt has called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to stop all sanctions against Russia. In an open letter that was available to the editorial network Germany (RND/Thursday), the craftsmen also called for negotiations to end the war against Ukraine.

“We as craftsmen know from many conversations with our customers that the vast majority is not willing to sacrifice their hard-earned standard of living for Ukraine. It’s not our war either!”, It says, and: “Do you want to be the chancellor who drove Germany to ruin. Do you really want to sacrifice your country?”

The district craftsman criticized Russia’s attack on Ukraine as a serious crime and “a clear violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter”. However, they are “worried about the future of our children and grandchildren, worried about the continued existence of our businesses, worried about our country”.

In addition, one cannot speak of a flawless democratic state in Ukraine. The craftsmen refer to a publication by Transparency International, in which the country took 122nd place in corruption in 2021 – no other European country did worse. “And you want to put Germany at risk for that?” criticize the 16 signatories from all guilds.