The majority parties are joined by the CSV and Pirate Party in supporting EU sanctions against Russia and Luxembourg supplying Ukraine with miltary material, while ADR and Déi Lénk are more critical. The situation in Ukraine was debated in a session at the Chamber of Deputies.
Déi Lénk are very critical of arms delivery, with MP Nathalie Oberweis arguing: “Especially at a time where initial talks are taking place between the Ukrainian and the Russian side, you have to wonder whether this is appropriate or whether it will pour oil onto the fire. [...] Coming from the human rights and peace movement, I know the international law on armed resistance in a situation of invasion. [...] But it is still a big step from there to delivering weapons.”
On the other hand, there should be more efforts from Luxembourg as a financial centre to freeze Russian assets, according to Déi Lénk.
ADR MP Fernand Kartheiser remarked that the Chamber of Deputies had merely been informed, but not consulted on arms deliveries. The ADR also opposes banning TV channels, using a slippery slope argument about censorship.
The Pirate Party demanded that the government prevent Russian oligarchs from using planes registered in Luxembourg to avoid sanctions in the European air space.
For CSV MP Claude Wiseler, the events of the past few days are a turning point in European and Luxembourgish history. But the crisis also showed that the country needs to increase its military spending, in line with EU and NATO needs.
“Starting from 0.6% today, we think we can go well beyond the 0.74% the government has planned until 2040. We think we should aim for a 1% spending goal.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn said three weeks ago it would be unthinkable that Luxembourg would send arms to another country. But the point of the deliveries decided this week is to help the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russia. Regarding Russia Today and Sputnik, these are not free media according to him, so banning these TV channels is the correct decision in his eyes.
Asselborn further announced that the issue of the Russian honorary consuls would be reconsidered - the mandate of Valery Gergiev, for instance, ends next Tuesday. Gergiev was fired from the Munich Philharmonic because he refused to distance himself from Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
He also explained that 11 Luxembourgers and 7 Ukrainians are still stuck in Ukraine, which the government is trying to get out. The Foreign Ministry has also received requests from Russians who refuse to fight against Ukraine and have requested refugee status in Luxembourg.
