German Stubbornness
The World's First Passive-Aggressive Power
Germany asked for an "energy exemption" to sanctions against Russia. No one is surprised that Germany would do this, given their energy dependence on Russia. Furthermore, this underlines President Joe Biden's point in a press conference last Friday – NATO is a divided alliance. These parties are constantly jockeying for position against one another.
The German consternation about sanctions on Russia comes simultaneously as the European Union is launching a trade dispute against China over Lithuanian exporters. Under the Chancellorship of Angela Merkel, China and Germany increased their trade relations. However, a tremendous amount of pressure in Germany now to minimize ties with China, especially after Chinese trade practices harmed other members in its multinational organizational agreements. The current government of Germany launched protests over the trade dispute.
The practical to the point of autism while simultaneously engaging in endless platitudinal posturing, the German government supplied 5,000 helmets to Ukraine. Anecdotally, as more photos of Ukrainian irregulars training with cardboard rifles, slick (meaning without battle gear), demonstrate the raw lack of critical soldiering supplies in Ukraine. Retired champion boxer and mayor of Kyiv (Kiev) Vitali Klitschko rightfully criticized the German response.
The more important question is, can Germany supply more? Do they care? And why can't Ukraine afford these things?
Especially given Ukrainian oligarchs embezzling money in Dallas, Texas, is there an incentive to the Germans, who rightfully have a lack of patience with the more corrupt countries in Europe?
It is all about the gas prices, their Achilles heel for Germany. The Green Energy activism there is shutting down Nuclear Power reactors while Russia is more than happy to provide them energy. However, this energy relationship could be a carrot for improving Western and Russian relations eventually, where Russian trade normalization increases incentives to back Western Powers over China.
Meanwhile, Czechia supplied 4,006 152-millimeter shells to Ukraine. As great as this sounds, a country like the Czech Republic doesn't need 4,000+ Soviet artillery shells. On an interesting note, the Soviets devised these artillery numbers to be easier to understand over the radio. Over the radio, there is a manner and etiquette to speaking so that numbers, places, or other essential items aren't confused. The Russians solved this by changing the last number on the size of rounds, which makes these rounds completely incompatible with NATO rounds.