Germany Blocks NATO Ally From Transferring Weapons to Ukraine

[former9thward]

Germany is blocking North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally Estonia from giving military support to Ukraine by refusing to issue permits for German-origin weapons to be exported to Kyiv as it braces for a potential Russian invasion.

Unlike the U.S., Britain, Poland and other allies, the German government has declined to export lethal weapons directly to Ukraine.

In the case of Estonia, a small country on Russia’s northern border, Berlin is also refusing to allow a third country to send artillery to Ukraine because the weaponry originated in Germany, according to Estonian and German officials.

The issue is being seen by Western security specialists and Ukraine as a test of Berlin’s arms-transfer policy during a mounting crisis in Europe and points to the difficulties the U.S. and its European allies are facing in forging a common response to Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine and demands.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-blocks-nato-ally-from-transferring-weapons-to-ukraine-11642790772

So much for NATO "unity".

[Klaralven]

1. Germany seeks mediating role as Ukraine tensions rise

For now, Germany has decided to hang on in the escalating situation: The Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that embassy staff in Kyiv, Ukraine, would not be evacuated — though it would cover the costs of any staff family members who wished to return to Germany.

Though the safety of staff was the German government's "highest priority," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, no moves would be made that might destabilize the situation any further. Earlier,the US had announced that would be slimming down its staff in Kyiv, allowing non-essential staff to leave the country if they wished. The US move was described as "exaggerated caution" by the Ukrainian government.

Baerbock's carefully-chosen words, made in consultation with the European Union, reflected the mediating course that Germany has been trying to steer between Russia and NATO for several years.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-seeks-mediating-role-as-ukraine-tensions-rise/a-60540696

No "Drang nach Osten" for now.

[Hangingon]

2. Germany get heating fuel from a Russian pipeline

[SonofBen]

3. Germany has gone all in on natural gas from Russia

Russia and Putin stand to make billions in the next few years from Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Natural Gas Pipeline to Germany.

The United States bailed Europe out from Germany twice last century.

Maybe we shouldn't have rebuilt the Huns.
We should at least get out of Ramstein and move the AFB to Poland.

[Klaralven]

4. Most of the EU is dependednt on Russian Gas

The issue with Germany is that it wants to use pipelined in the Baltic in order not to pay transit fees to eastern European countries and to secure a reliable supply. A decade or so ago, the Ukrainians were diverting natural gas to their own use.

How Europe Has Become So Dependent on Putin for Gas

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-10/how-europe-has-become-so-dependent-on-putin-for-gas-quicktake