23 billion euros for Putin’s war – Germany’s imports continue to rise
“With less gas delivered, the till in Moscow rings even more”
“It is technically possible to bring old reactors back online, but it will not be politically possible,” says Nikolaus Doll from the WELT political editorial team. He explains why Russia is “well deserved” and how realistic it is to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants.
Despite all the embargoes on coal, gold, steel and even schnapps: Russia’s income from transactions with Germany continues to grow. The transfers from Germany are enough to largely finance Putin’s regular military spending.
Bei the West’s policy of sanctions against Russia Editorial of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” recently told his astonished readers that “it could never really be about bringing Putin to his knees, but about setting a sign against war and for freedom”.
Indeed, Vladimir Putin has not been brought to his knees, at least not yet. But it is doubtful that the sanctions will reach the Kremlin ruler only as a sign against war and for freedom.
It is correct: the EU has Imports of many goods from Russia restricted or restrictions announced, from coal, steel, lumber and cement to fish and liquor to the gold. But all of this is clearly being overcompensated, at least in the case of Germany, by the thriving business with Russia’s gas. Falling delivery quantities are more than compensated for by the increased prices.
Source: Infographic WORLD
show that new figures from the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. German customers transferred 3.5 billion euros to Russian suppliers in June alone. Despite the war and sanctions, this corresponds to an increase of almost five percent compared to May. Compared to May 2021, the increase is even 39 percent.
In the entire first half of the year, Russia’s revenues from business in Germany totaled 22.6 billion euros. More than in the previous record year 2012. And no less than 52 percent more than in 2021.
Source: Infographic WORLD
In the year in which Putin launched his war of aggression against Ukraine, Germany’s role as a financier only grew further. In purely mathematical terms, the bulk of the Russian military budget can be paid for with the transfers from Germany. In the past year, which was already marked by armament, Russia’s military expenditures amounted to around 57 billion euros.
Of course, the rising revenues are mainly due to price effects. This can be seen from the provisional figures from Wiesbaden when looking at the weight of the imports: Measured in tons, imports were around 30 percent below the previous year’s level.
But that doesn’t detract from Putin’s position, on the contrary: The autocrat and his henchmen earn more in the German business – and can still leave more gas in the ground and save it for later funding. So that later even more billions will flow from Germany to Russia.
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