Weapons and Nord Stream 2: Expert on Germany in the Ukraine conflict

Is it the right decision that Germany excludes arms deliveries?
Germany is totally restrictive because they’re terribly afraid of messing things up with Russia. And I think that Ukraine shouldn’t be left alone at this point, because Russia should already be feeling the harshness and unity of the West. And they suspect precisely that the West is not closed. And the more united the West is, the clearer the West is, the greater the chances that Russia won’t take too much liberty either. So I think ultimately Germany should help there. The argument that Germany brought so much suffering to the world in World War II is a bit difficult at the moment, because Germany supplies weapons to many corners of the world, for example to the Middle East, and has no problems with that.
What role does the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Germany and Russia play?
The West has an ace up its sleeve. With this Nord Stream connection that Russia would like to have. And at the moment the decision is hanging and it is now clear that if Russia moves and attacks Ukraine, this pipeline will not be put into operation for the time being.
Should the “Nord Stream 2” be put into operation in the current situation?
That would be fatal and I don’t think anyone in the West would understand either. When Germany says it has nothing to do with the Ukraine conflict, that is an economic decision. We do, we do our thing. Especially since we now have a new government. And Annalena Baerbock said very clearly during the election campaign that Nord Stream 2 must not come, as long as Russia escalates like this. And Scholz, who is hesitant SPD is traditionally more understanding towards Russia and especially Putin. But he too has now made it clear that Nord Stream 2 will not come if Putin moves away from this limit.