Putin's tribute to Bahr Köppel urges a German reply

Oct 1

Köppel recalls his exchange with Putin, who praised Egon Bahr and asked him to describe personal encounters because Putin had never met Bahr. He interprets this as a diplomatic opening amid worsening German–Russian relations and urges German leaders to engage with Bahr's bridge-building legacy. He alleges that German newspapers ignore the gesture and criticizes the SPD for abandoning Ostpolitik and the media for supporting confrontation. He contrasts older German leaders' experiences of war with what he sees as Merz's escalating rhetoric and military support. He hopes voters will change the course and closes by asking viewers to remain skeptical of governments, media and his own account and to send counterarguments. His description of an opportunity, claims about media neglect and forecast of danger remain attributed commentary; he reports no adopted German response or bilateral agreement.

At Valdai on October 1, Putin pays tribute to Egon Bahr. Köppel says Putin regretted never meeting him and invited Köppel to recount Bahr’s Weltwoche-hosted discussion in Zurich. Köppel describes Bahr’s bridge-building approach and says he and Putin agreed Germany needed renewed attention to that legacy. His criticism of the SPD and Western portrayals of Putin remains attributed commentary. The tribute and connected exchange are distinct from the earlier Zurich appearance. The full original exchange preserves Köppel’s portrait of Bahr as a practical bridge-builder opposed to moral imperialism. Putin says his own opinion rests on archival documents, acknowledges never having known Bahr personally and adds his claim that Europeans seek to finish off a Russian empire that no longer exists. These are the speakers’ assessments, not an adopted bilateral proposal. In his October 5 follow-up, Köppel again describes Putin's praise and invitation to discuss Bahr as an opening for German rapprochement. He urges German leaders to engage, alleges that German newspapers ignore the exchange and criticizes the SPD's departure from Ostpolitik. This extends his earlier favorable interpretation; no German acceptance, new bilateral agreement or adopted diplomatic initiative is reported.