German-Russian Tensions Escalate as Berlin and Moscow Differ on Defense Spending
The Russian Ambassador to Berlin, Sergei J. Netschajew, has labeled the planned defense spending in Europe as a security risk for his country, according to a report by the NDR in an announcement article for the documentary “Angst vor Krieg. Die Deutschen in der Zeitenwende” (Fear of War. The Germans in the Time of Transition).
When asked about the relationship between Germans and Russians, he said, “We do not consider ourselves at war yet. Not yet. I do not know if it will come to that.” He attributed the alleged concern of many Germans that Russia might attack another country after Ukraine to “people being infected by a militaristic psychosis that is being strongly fueled in various European states like never before.”
The documentary, which will be aired on April 7 at 20:15 in the first and is also available in the ARD Mediathek, explores the question of what the term “Zeitenwende” means for the people in Germany. According to a representative survey conducted for the film, 56% of Germans are concerned about the possibility of a large war in Europe and 67% do not trust the military protection of the US anymore.
In recent months, high-ranking Bundeswehr officials have increasingly appeared in the media, stating that Germany should prepare for a possible Russian attack. Experts, including Carlo Masala, Christian Mölling and Sönke Neitzel, have predicted a possible Russian attack on a NATO country in the east in 2029 or 2030.
Now, experts are warning that the attack could happen as early as this year, as recently stated by the military expert Susanne Wiegand in Bild, who warned that the Bundeswehr has little time left and that military experts with combat and deployment-proven competence should occupy leadership positions in the Defense Ministry and the arms industry.
Another headline in a regional German newspaper suggests that the southern part of the country could be occupied by Russians, with the headline “If the Russians come: Can Baden-Württemberg even protect itself in a war?” introducing an interview with Michael Giss, the head of the state command of Baden-Württemberg.
Many top politicians have also expressed similar views, with CDU man Jens Spahn saying, “The Russian is standing at the door” and former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressing her concern that Russian troops could march into the state of Brandenburg, where she resides.
Meanwhile, the German media are celebrating the capabilities of German modern weapons systems against Russian soldiers and technology, with Bild jubilating, “German KI-drones hunt Putin’s military” and “Special forces show how they eliminate Russian targets with the high-tech weapon” with a video showing the German high-tech company Helsing’s KI-kamikaze drone, the HF-1, in action in Ukraine.