ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Majority of Germans agree to arms deliveries

How to end the war in Ukraine? Loud ARD Germany Trend a majority considers the arms deliveries to be appropriate. Three quarters say Ukraine must decide for itself whether to negotiate with Russia.

A little over a year ago, Russian troops invaded Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed a war of aggression in Europe. Tens of thousands of dead, millions displaced, and a deadlocked military situation are making calls for an “exit strategy” louder.

Everyone wants peace, but on what terms? In their “Manifesto for Peace,” Alice Schwarzer and Sahra Wagenknecht call for an end to German arms deliveries to Ukraine and for peace negotiations to begin. How do the Germans feel about these demands?

German diplomatic efforts do not go far enough

As for Germany’s military support for Ukraine, a relative majority of 47 percent (+3 compared to February) considers it appropriate. After the federal government’s decision to also supply battle tanks to Ukraine, the proportion of those for whom the general support of Ukraine with weapons goes too far increased in February (from 26 percent in January to 35 percent in February). Currently, however, this share has shrunk again slightly: 31 percent think that supporting Ukraine with weapons goes too far, 16 percent (+1) does not go far enough.

And what about the peace negotiations? A majority of 53 percent currently say that diplomatic efforts to end the war do not go far enough. Here too he had ARD Germany trend recorded an increase in February: from 52 percent in January to 58 percent in February; now the value has decreased again by 5 points to 53 percent. Currently, 33 percent (+3) think the efforts are reasonable, 5 percent (+1) go too far.

However, the desire for more diplomacy does not necessarily go hand in hand with a rejection of arms deliveries: Even those for whom the diplomatic efforts to end the war do not go far enough agree in principle to arms deliveries: 45 percent consider military support for Ukraine to be appropriate ; 12 percent does not go far enough. On the other hand, 39 percent of those who feel diplomatic efforts don’t go far enough say that supporting Ukraine militarily goes too far.

Germans want more sanctions against Russia

When assessing the sanctions against Russia, the proportion of those for whom they do not go far enough has increased by five percentage points. Currently, 43 percent think that the sanctions against Russia do not go far enough, 33 percent (-4 compared to February) think they are appropriate, only 18 percent go too far (+- 0).

There are different positions on the question of how the war in Ukraine could be ended. However, a vast majority of Germans believe that Ukraine must first and foremost decide for itself when to enter into negotiations with Russia. Seven out of ten Germans (73 percent) agree with this statement, 21 percent disagree.

Only one in three Germans (35 percent) think that ending the war will require Ukraine to cede certain areas to Russia – a narrow majority of 54 percent disagree. Incidentally, the supporters of almost all parties see it this way: the Greens supporters most clearly with 68 percent, and the FDP supporters also disagree with this statement with a relative majority of 48 percent. A different picture emerges among the supporters of the AfD alone: ​​Here, the majority (64 percent) believe that Ukraine will cede certain areas to Russia to end the war.

Majority worried about worsening economic situation

After the outbreak of the Ukraine war a good year ago, many people were concerned that the economic situation in Germany would deteriorate. In March a year ago, 64 percent said they were very or very worried about it – today 69 percent say they are very or very worried.

A year ago, 66 percent were still concerned that the Ukraine war would result in cuts in gas and energy supplies in Germany, compared to 53 percent today. 58 percent are currently concerned that Germany could be drawn directly into the war (+2 compared to October 2022).

Russia and China are not trustworthy partners for Germany

When it comes to the question of whether Russia is a trustworthy partner for Germany, Germans are largely in agreement: Only seven percent think Russia can be trusted. The situation is similar when it comes to the assessment of China: eight percent consider China to be a trustworthy partner for Germany.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently visited India to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. 33 percent consider India to be a trustworthy partner. In the case of Ukraine, 47 percent currently say that the country can be trusted, in the case of the USA, a majority of 59 percent.

Union in Sunday question trending up

If there were a federal election on Sunday, the chancellor party SPD would currently have 18 percent and thus lose slightly (-2 compared to February). The Union of CDU and CSU improved by four percentage points compared to the previous month and would still be the strongest force with 31 percent. For the CDU/CSU, this is the best value in the ARD Germany Trend for two years. The Greens fell by one percentage point to 17 percent, just behind the SPD. The FDP also loses a point and is currently at six percent. The AfD could expect 14 percent (-1), the left with five percent (+1). All other parties remain unchanged at nine percent (+-0).

The majority of Germans continue to view the incumbent federal government as low. At the beginning of March, 65 percent were less or not at all satisfied with the work of the SPD, Greens and FDP (+1 compared to February). Only a third of those entitled to vote (33 percent, +-0) are satisfied or even very satisfied.

Tailwind for Defense Minister Pistorius

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is ahead in the evaluation of the current government’s top personnel with 52 percent (+14 compared to February). 19 percent state that they are not satisfied with their work. Pistorius is now ahead of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), with whose work 47 percent are satisfied (-1) and 49 percent are dissatisfied. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) lost six percentage points compared to February and was 41 percent satisfied; 50 percent are less or not at all satisfied with their work. 38 percent are satisfied with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) (-2), 59 percent of those surveyed said they were dissatisfied with his work.

The leader of the Union parliamentary group, Friedrich Merz, still has a satisfaction value of 31 percent (+-0), but 58 percent state that they are dissatisfied with their work. Satisfaction with Finance Minister Christian Lindner has fallen to 31 percent (-4) compared to February, 61 percent are dissatisfied with his work.

26 percent are currently satisfied with the political work of the left-wing member of the Bundestag Sahra Wagenknecht (-12 compared to April 2019), 62 percent are less or not at all satisfied.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has a satisfaction level of 24 percent (+2), 47 percent are currently dissatisfied with their work. 14 percent are still satisfied with Transport Minister Volker Wissing (+-0 compared to September 2022), 42 percent are dissatisfied. The left party leader Janine Wissler comes to nine percent (-2 compared to January), 32 percent are not satisfied and 59 percent do not know them or do not dare to judge them. Nine percent are also satisfied with the AfD federal spokesman Tino Chrupalla (-2 compared to January). 46 percent are dissatisfied and 45 percent say they don’t know him or don’t trust himself to judge him.