Nearly a hundred Eastern European experts have openly criticized Germany’s and the European Union’s (EU) policy towards Russia, calling for much tougher sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s open illegal offensive against a peaceful state has finally confirmed the decades-long German-EU policy towards Moscow,” the Tagesspiegel reported on Saturday.
According to experts, Russia’s military presence in Moldova, which has been going on since 1992, and its expansion in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, confirm that efforts to curb Moscow’s increasingly secretive neo-imperialist ambitions through failed diplomacy, contractual relations and business contacts are doomed to failure. .
They recall that even the overt occupation of Crimea and the “pseudo-civil war” in Donbass did not prevent Germany from signing an agreement on the construction of the submarine section of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in 2015, and that Germany continues to import large quantities of oil from Russia and gas, thus generously replenishing the Russian treasury.
“The tragic and uncertain fate of Ukraine would in itself be a sufficient reason for stronger action by Germany and the EU, but not to allow [Krievijas prezidentam Vladimiram] All of Europe has a vital interest in Putin’s success in his imperial revanchism. Trade and general prosperity are possible only in a stable and peaceful environment, “the authors of the letter emphasized.
“If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, it could lead to further aggression against neighboring countries such as Moldova and Georgia, and further destabilize Europe,” they warn.
“German and Eastern European policies should seek to actively support Ukraine’s survival now, rather than relying on measures that will bear fruit in just a few weeks or even months,” the experts wrote. “Germany must abandon its short-sighted selfishness (…) and do everything possible now to make this war more expensive for Russia.”
They propose imposing sanctions on all Russian banks, completely disconnecting Russia from the international payment system SWIFT, suspending the purchase of oil, gas or any other raw material from Russia, isolating Russia from banning members of the Russian government and the elite close to the government, and confiscating Putin. the assets and property of nearby Russian oligarchs and companies.
The authors also call for Russia to be excluded from all international public and sporting events, to support Ukraine’s economy and army, and to supply Ukraine with not only light but also heavy defense and offensive weapons, such as large anti-aircraft missiles, aircraft, ships and vehicles.
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