Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caught more than one European country off guard.
The last scale of a crisis occurred in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The commercial calendar stopped, and when it began to take flight came the war.
Germany has been criticized by several European governments and by the United States for its slow reactions against Russia, however, seeing the figures of energy dependence it has on Russia (55% of its gas consumption comes from Putin’s country) , it is understood that the exit from the labyrinth is not easy.
One of the snub-laden reactions against Germany occurred within the Ukrainian government of President Zelensky. On April 12, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier revealed that he was unable to travel to Ukraine due to a decision by the Zelensky government.
In such a developed globalization process, it is impossible to apply trade sanctions overnight knowing that the boomerang effect tends to strangle the economy if we talk about strategic raw materials.
In an interview conducted by Der Spiegel, Melanie Amann and Martin Knobbe, with Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz, the journalists insist through several questions about the little reaction of his government to the Russian invasion. “The United States Government says that it only took 48 hours to send weapons to Ukraine after the authorization of President Biden. It has taken us (Germany) 48 days”, they tell the chancellor.
Washington is a long way from kyiv. It is Europe that is reeling from what is happening in Ukraine.
Journalists tried to corner Chancellor Scholz by telling him: “If we deliver tanks (to Ukraine), there is a threat of a nuclear attack. Why don’t you tell the Germans clearly? Scholz replies: “Sorry, but we won’t get anywhere with simplifications like this!”
“Are you not afraid in the future to look back and say: We should have done more to stop this slaughter?”, they insist.
German journalists tell Scholz that he is arrogant when the chancellor mentions that the path chosen in his decisions has been the right one.
“Why can’t you say these words: Nord Stream 2 was a mistake?” they ask. “We prevented it from going live in response to Russian aggression,” Scholz replies.
Yesterday, the Scholz government announced the dispatch of anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. His government coalition achieved a consensus. Liberals and Greens put pressure on him.
The pressures are understandable, but the application of sanctions affects the 27 countries of the European Union differently. And what about the United States, far, far away from kyiv.
In the short term, you react emotionally; in the long term, rationally.
@faustopretelin
Consultant, academic, editor
Globali… what?
He was a research professor in the Department of International Studies at ITAM, published the book Referendum Twitter and was an editor and collaborator in various newspapers such as 24 Horas, El Universal, Milenio. He has published in magazines such as Foreign Affairs, Le Monde Diplomatique, Life & Style, Chilango and Revuelta. He is currently an editor and columnist at El Economista.