Three years after the start of the Ukraine war, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) sees a new dimension of the threat posed by Russia’s hybrid war.
“The security situation has significantly deteriorated” the SPD politician told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “Putin is acting absolutely unscrupulously.” This is evident in the “brutality” with which he is waging his attack war, not only against the Ukrainian military, but also against the Ukrainian civilian population, as well as in cyber attacks or disinformation campaigns. One sees attacks on critical infrastructure and companies, and there is a significant increase in sabotage and espionage cases.
“We are the largest supporter of Ukraine in Europe, and Putin has it in for us” Faeser said. “That’s why we are going from an increased threat level and are talking to companies about better protection, especially in the defense industry.” The Interior Ministry is also preparing for the expansion of protected areas. “We are currently examining how basements in public buildings, underground garages, or subway stations can be used as protected areas” the minister said. Currently, there are only around 480,000 places in public protected areas for around 80 million people. “Our goal is a system that quickly shows people on their phone where they can find shelter in the area.”
The interior minister also accuses the Kremlin of fomenting migration “to destabilize states.” At border controls, the minister wants to hold on to them in the long term. “We need these controls until the new asylum system kicks in.” The controls have set an important signal in Europe: “Germany has fulfilled its humanitarian responsibility for refugees in a much larger way than other states, and it’s not going to be that way anymore.”
The minister rejects a proposal by CDU leader Friedrich Merz to possibly strip people of their citizenship after serious crimes, calling it “contrary to the constitution.” “There is no first-class and second-class citizenship. The standard is the constitution.” Faeser also rejects the accusations of the Union in the election campaign that the government has not been able to get a grip on the issue of migration. “The opposite is true. We have ensured more control and order” the minister said. Nevertheless, the Union is “chasing populist votes on the migration issue in the election campaign.