Friends, could German people be consolidating behind dropping sanctions? Certainly the sanctions are hurting not only Russia’s economy but all of Europe’s. The French are requesting the same, the Italians the same.
How do we Americans feel about squeezing the economies of other countries and forcing others to “shun” another nation of people, Russia?
Does this reflect how we want our children to act on their playgrounds, our sons and daughters to treat other groups in their universities? Are these the tactics we use in interactions among business competitors? How can we justify nation-to-nation behaviors that we wouldn’t permit among our families, friends, colleagues and business partners?
It’s time for us all to start asking ourselves these tough questions ….
Two related articles translated from a German publication follow.
— Sharon
A Majority in Germany Wants to Lift Sanctions Against Russia
Russia Insider – May 2, 2016
Translated from the original story in German Economic News
According to a study, the majority of Germans wish to have the EU sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014, as a result of the Ukraine crisis, to be lifted or at least eased. However, US President Obama and Chancellor Merkel want to maintain the sanctions.
According to a poll conducted by Reuters for the magazine Internationale Politik, 35% voted for a complete lifting and 36% for an easing of sanctions.
Supporters of left-wing parties in particular and the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland — Alternative for Germany) plead for a partial lifting of sanctions, as do generally supporters of the Union, SPD (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands — Social Democratic Party of Germany), and the Greens. Only 18% want to maintain sanctions unchanged. Pollsters from Forsa (German Institute for Social Research and Statistical Analysis) interviewed on April 11-12 around 1,00 eligible voters.
The EU’s economic sanctions against Russia expire at the end of July and a decision to extend them will have to be made then.
US Demands Germany’s Collaboration In Fight Against Russia
Russia Insider – May 2, 2016
Translated from the original story in German Economic News
The US demands the active cooperation of the German armed forces on the eastern borders of NATO, which it considers crucial to militarily shunning Russia. Germany has been avoiding the topic so far, but now Washington is increasing the pressure on Angela Merkel.
According to a report, the US is demanding a strong German engagement in the struggle against Russia in Eastern Europe. Spiegel (a German weekly news magazine), citing German government sources, writes that Washington is speaking of the necessity of “shunning” Russia and emphasizing the active participation of Germany in the planned deployment of NATO units in the rotations in the eastern border of the Treaty organization.
In particular, it is from the UK and Germany that the US is seeking troops and arms to provide a NATO presence in the Baltic states as well as Poland and Romania. This has already been announced by US President Obama in the National Security Council and is further mentioned in the report.
The USA is thus putting Germany on the spot, as Der Spiegel sees it. Berlin has kept itself away so far due to the Bundeswehr already being considerably occupied in the new NATO strike force until 2020.
A few days prior, NATO discussed further expansion into the East, and accused Russia to behaving aggressively on the subject.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, NATO had already progressively increased its presence in the Eastern European NATO states. Furthermore, the US announced a permanent deployment of a tank brigade in Eastern Europe.
Obama came on Monday April 25 to Hannover to attend a coalition summit with Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, and Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi.