Berlin says it stands ‘very closely’ on Kyiv’s side but won’t change
position on arms exports.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sought to calm a diplomatic
storm with Ukraine on Monday, offering economic aid to the war-threatened
country and reiterating Berlin’s strong support.

The move came after Germany’s top navy official over the weekend played
down the threat of the 100,000 Russian troops massed along the Ukrainian
border, suggesting the West should show some “respect” to Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

The German government was quick to distance itself from its navy chief,
who resigned later on Saturday. But the damage was done: Ukraine’s foreign
minister publicly scolded Germany, saying that it “must stop such words
and actions [which] undermine unity and encourage Vladimir Putin to a new
attack on Ukraine.”

Arriving at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday,
Baerbock vowed support for Ukraine and argued that “economic stabilization
” was “one of the decisive measures” of support Germany could provide.

“It is important that we especially keep the economic situation in Ukraine
in mind,” she said. “We are very closely on Ukraine’s side in terms of
both financial and economic support.”

Baerbock did not offer any details about the monetary aid, however.

Her announcement came the same day that European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen proposed a €1.2 billion emergency aid package to
“help Ukraine now to address its financing needs due to the conflict.” The
money still needs to be approved by EU countries and the European
Parliament.

The pledges of financial support are occurring against the backdrop of
another issue that has left Ukraine frustrated: Germany’s refusal to send
Ukraine arms to help the country defend itself against a potential Russian
invasion. Germany has even hindered Estonia to this point from sending old
German howitzers to the country.

Moreover, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz only hesitantly announced last
week that all options — including a stop of the controversial
Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Ukraine opposes —
would have to be discussed if Russia attacked Ukraine.

While Baerbock spoke of economic and financial aid on Monday, a government
spokesperson said in Berlin that the German position concerning arms
exports to Ukraine, even when it comes to defensive weapon systems,
remained “unchanged.”

The spokesperson further said that the government “has not yet made a
decision” whether to allow the export of the Estonian howitzers to
Ukraine. “I cannot say precisely” when the decision will be made, the
spokesperson said, “but it’s not a matter of months.”

Asked whether Germany was a reliable partner when it comes to dealing with
Russia, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that “all
members of the European Union are united.”

### - had to really laff over everyone suddenly turning on germany
(again!) for NOT wanting to get too involved in anything to do with
sending military arms and wars and stuff?

and yet the answer for their reluctance is actually very simple really....
the exact same reason they also balked that time when it came to them
being asked to go to israel during the gulf war to test for chemical
weapons that saddam hussain was reported to have chucked at them: everyone
called them cowards for refusing to go?? :)))

what they were NOT taking into consideration, however, and it's very
important... being that since the end of ww2, germany has literally been
on the end of a stick they've been beaten with for the last 70 years!!! ya
rotten nazi-bastards causing ww2 (poke/dig) gassing & killing millions of
people?? (poke-poke-dig) on & on like that, by the whole world, for near
on 3 generations???

is it any wonder then that, after being put through ALL that, of
generations all being beaten with the same awful stick, that the 'current'
generation are all now quite genuine pacifists that wants absolutely NADA
to do with wars or killing people ever again?

that although (because of their history) they just so happen to be the
world's best experts on 'gassing' people (lol @ the irony) they then felt
distinctly 'uncomfortable' when asked to go to 'israel' (of all places
lol) and investigate them being 'gassed' LOL ! they were horrified at even
the very idea ffs! and it was actually 'quite 'cruel' of us to poke them
for feeling that way?? (very cruel actually, mixed signals and all that?)

ditto again now: as confirmed pacifists not wanting to ever do anything
illegal or violent again, they don't wanna get involved in sending arms to
anywhere that'll maybe use them to either, rightly or wrongly: 'kill'
people, right?

this being perfectly understandable! of course they're part of europe and
stand with them now as allies! but after being treated/conditioned like
that for 70 fuckin' years don't pretend to be surprised when they
immediately shy like a horse at the prospect of getting involved with
violence of ANY description???

i.e., we DID that TO them as PUNISHMENT for their involvement in ww2!

and it worked!!! they NEVER ever wanna be violent EVER again LOL ! they've
become total pacifists!

even if that means being kicked around & despised by the rest of europe
for wanting peace...

coz in truth, after being conditioned so brutally like that, for sooo very
long, they actually need therapy! (lol anyone would!)

iow: 'because' of what they (as a nation) have BEEN through over the last
70 years, germany is thus the very LAST person ANYONE should ever ask to
join their army LOL ! LOL !

(do you remember the movie clockwork orange? well THAT what was
effectively done TO germany as punishment!!! go figure...)