Germany Accuses Ukraine of Nord Stream Sabotage. So What?!?
At best, it's a footnote in history. And there is always the Schadenfreude - by Benjamin Cook
This week the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing the German accusations about Ukraine’s alleged bombing of the Nord Stream pipelines. While I have several problems with the article, I’m not going into that here. What I will point out is that none of this matters.
It’s Germany’s Fault
Assuming the information is correct and Ukraine attacked the pipeline it must be said that the pipeline immediately became a legitimate target of war for Ukraine when Russia invaded in 2014. Germany being angry or aggrieved pales in comparison to Ukraine fighting off a genocidal war from Russia. NO… that’s not hyperbole.
Germany over the past decades has been dismantling it’s energy infrastructure in an effort to “go renewable” and in doing so became overly reliant on Russia for its energy needs. Particularly: natural gas. This isn’t an article about the pros and cons of realistic energy policy. But it must be pointed out that more than 50% of Germany’s energy is produced from oil or coal.
This is partially a result of closing nuclear power generation resources in Germany and partially the Russians doing a good job in influencing German leaders.
This phenomenon isn’t new.
So, in a very real sense, Germany brought all of this on itsefl. Germany was in a very unique position in 2008 when Russia invaded Georgia: it could have made substantive demands of Moscow. It decided not to. Germany was in the same position in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine. It did not. Germany knew what Putin’s plans were for Ukraine and all of the former Soviet satellite states. We all knew. He told us all… in Munich, in Germany!
Putin has infiltrated Germany at all levels. Not only because of this, Ukraine has EVERY legal right to defend itself. Including against co-enterprises that consist of an enemy and a ally. Germany was warned and petitioned by Ukraine and other state- and non state actors about building Nord Stream 2. Germany chose to align itself with Putin. This choice, and all choices, have consequences. For Germany (and Austria, the biggest foreign investor into the Nord Stream 2), it’s the loss of billions in pipeline investment and now billions of Euros in aid to Ukraine. (What could a forceful response to the Georgia invasion save the German [and Austrian] economy today?)
There are many reasons Russia went ahead with the full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. All major powers have responsibility. The US burning its moral authority in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exit of Afghanistan. The UK and all of NATO hiding under the US military umbrella. But… Germany has the most responsibility. It allowed itself to be subjected to Putin’s influence operations and ignored opportunities to bring Russia in line with more western values. In short, Germany took the money. It opted for short term gains and flattery instead of sound energy and security policy.
No one in Ukraine cares what Germany accuses a few Ukrainians of doing in the goal of defending Ukraine. Nor do I. Nor should you.
"No one in Ukraine cares what Germany accuses a few Ukrainians of doing in the goal of defending Ukraine. Nor do I. Nor should you."
100% right, this is war not a tea-party.
While you are right concerning the dependency of Germany in the years up to 2023 on Russian energy resources including nuclear fuel supply for the nuclear reactors, you are imho wrong in a few conclusions.
First, the main reason was the price of Russian energy and lack of own resources, which led to buying Russian and the now ongoing transformation to renewable energy. Even a decision to build new reactors starting in 2014 would have changed nothing on that problem for years to come, because those new reactors would start to produce energy maybe ten years from now or even much later and to top it with Russian nuclear fuel.
Second and most important , not Germany or any German politician is accusing Ukraine, it is wrong in two terms. According to the German Law system the General Attorney has the obligation to search for the culprit, and accuse this suspect on his own doing, no politician could hinder him to do so.
According German law such a suspect can only be a person, not a country, and as such a suspect has been identified the General Attorney takes all his available tools to reach out to this suspect to trial him in a German court, all in his rights and duty, and no politician could prevent that. The court would then decide wether the suspect would be guilty and what fine would be appropriate.
Quite a difference to what you said, and to sum up, nobody here in Germany cares about that, not the majority of the people and not the majority of the politicians within or outside the government. Germany will stay with the people in Ukraine, as difficult and lengthy some decisions had been and how tough the financial burden will be.