When the German government announced that it would send 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine, followed by a field hospital, defence minister Christine Lambrecht called it a ‘clear sign’ that Germany is supporting Ukraine against Russia. But politicians and pundits, both inside and outside Germany, clearly disagree.
The mayor of Kiev, former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, called it a joke. Edward Lucas, writing for the American think tank CEPA, described it as further evidence of ‘German irresponsibility and ignorance in the face of Russian strategic thinking’. In Germany, Der Spiegel referred to Germany’s ‘Russia Problem’ and the Tagesspiegel called the government’s approach to Russia ‘naive at best’.
The German people are of a different view. Indeed, a significant majority of us do not want Germany actively to take sides in the Ukraine crisis. A recent YouGov survey showed that only 20 per cent of Germans favour arming Ukraine – 59 per cent are opposed.
‘Quite why Germany takes such a stubbornly forgiving, or optimistic, approach to Putin fills libraries’, notes one Guardian contributor. Some ascribe Germany’s approach to historical guilt, or narrow economic interests and a reliance on Russian gas supplies. But there is a more obvious and rational explanation for Germans’ attitude to Russia and the Ukraine crisis – which is that we view the stories of a new Russian imperialism with healthy scepticism. We simply don’t see Russia as an existential threat.
[Interesting Read]
See Also:
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(4) EU revolt! Five countries break ranks in furious attack as VDL ‘making a huge mistake’
(5) Boris damaged but not done for
Jack’s Note: Re: Lead column. The Germans have seen this movie before and they didn’t like it the first time.
