A Growing Concern for Germans**
The war in Ukraine has now been ongoing for nearly three years, and the conflict in the Middle East has been ongoing for almost a year and a half. There are concerns that the next wars could be just around the corner. Germans are being bombarded with daily reports of a potential Russian attack on NATO and Germany, with some media outlets spreading a sense of urgency that Germany needs to quickly become “war-ready”.
A recent survey by the YouGov institute in collaboration with the German Press Agency (dpa) reveals that most Germans are pessimistic about the prospects of an end to the conflicts. Only 29% of respondents believe the Ukraine war will end in the next year, while 49% do not think it will, and 22% made no comment.
The outlook is even more gloomy for the Gaza war, with 57% of respondents believing it will not end, and only 19% expecting a resolution. The war, which began with a terror attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, has left many Germans feeling hopeless.
In a survey of the biggest global threats, 56% of Germans named the Ukraine war as the most pressing concern, followed by the conflict in the Middle East (16%), and the conflict between China and Taiwan (10%). A significant 19% of respondents made no comment, highlighting the complexity of the issue.
The survey, conducted by YouGov between December 20 and 23, questioned 2,194 people, representing the German population over the age of 18.
While some military experts in the West warn of a potential collapse of the Ukrainian front, a Russian Telegram channel, Militärchronik, suggests that Ukraine may launch a counteroffensive in the coming year, citing massive US weapon deliveries and ongoing mobilization efforts. This scenario, which could potentially continue the war, is in stark contrast to the promises of a swift end to the conflict made by US officials.
The survey highlights the growing concern among Germans about the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of these conflicts.**