That can no longer be changed. Not with Scholz and the SPD, the SPD has to come to terms with the fact that their “ideal world” has collapsed first imo. And now they’re pi**ed off about Steinmeier. So don’t expect that to change anytime soon. As I said, Scholz sends Annalena. This is official. That being said, maybe it would change if Macron travels to Kyiv too. He wasn’t there either, nobody from France btw. Apparently no one cares about that.
Edit
Maybe he will surprise us all and travels. But unfortunately I don’t believe that.
They care, but as has been written endlessly about, Germany is in a special position since it frankly is the one stonewalling sanctions and many see Germany as responsible for helping Russia launch this war in the first place due to the deep economic ties with Russia. So you have to expect that Germany is the main country that will be criticised, because there are good and old, reasons for that from Merkel’s time. But I am sure you have read much about this in the last few months.
You don’t have to lecture me all the time of course I am aware. I just wanted to explain what’s happening here and why this situation is completely difficult.
We say the child fell into the well. Means it can no longer be changed. For the time being, I don’t see any positive way out of this diplomatic drama, it will take time for things to move. Luckily, the SPD does not rule alone here either and is already being duly shoved by the other two coalition partners and even the disgusting head of the CDU Friedrich Merz was already in Kyiv. More to look cool and get at Scholz than to be really helpful, but he was there. That has already increased the pressure here on the SPD quite a bit.
I know you are not. And I really apologise if you find me lecturing you in an odious way. I am just too used to always explaining in some sort of way when I write. I don’t mean to thread on you.
I know that, I do read what you write to me, Livvy. I posted the complaints of the central eastern Europeans and they don’t trust Germany so they suspect this. It is tendentious. I think Germany needs to do a lot to get back trust to be honest.
They have it from Julian Röpcke who usually is very critical of Germany in regards to Russia. So that’s where it is from
Noooo, he is from BILD ffs, I don’t want to say more about him. He isn’t reliable at all. No word about the False Flag etc. If the German Verfassungsschutz gives out a warning its serious!!! Julian Röpke just wants to wind up everyone.
Not just Poles anymore though. It is a lot of confirmation bias going on with this. Instant distrust of stuff Germany does, and it comes also from Czechia and the Baltic states. The Baltic states are very offended with Germany since the invasion since they warned about it and were told to basically sit down. So these days they sneer at what comes out of Germany and do not trust German policy to aid them and so on.
I would argue Germany has some work to do to get back Soft Power and trust it has lost due to its deep ties with Russia. I think Germany will do it though, but I am a bit confused with Scholz. I had hoped he would understand that he needed to be more decisive now that Germany has taken such a big hit to their standing in Europe. I think the German government will come around though. But Germany really in dire need of good PR now. So many people are just instantly suspicious of Germany these days and it is really not good.
So let’s hope Scholz can be and appear to be (appearance is important) more decisive and more proactive).
I agree. Röpcke is not the most reliable source. I know him from his Syria reporting. He used to use all sorts of less than stellar sources. He is adamantly anti Russian though.
of course I am aware. I just wanted to explain what’s happening here and why this situation is completely difficult.
