Okay, you want my frank opinion on that? The job of EU politicians is to either:
1) "suck up to Russia" (or let's put it politely: have a working economic relationship with Russia)
2) actually END THE WAR, as in honestly say to people that we're going to war, because that's exactly what EU sanctions are going to accomplish, and understand that this is what 10% or more of the economy will be dedicated to that for let's say a decade, and of course, missiles will be coming in for that time.
I would even go so far to say that it seems to me likely in the extreme that Germany, and by that I mean Schroeder and Merkel, promised Russia they would be allowed to conquer Ukraine (look at their UN votes after the Crimea annexation for example) ... and obviously they didn't deliver, and that, combined with Ukraine actually managing to save themselves against German wishes, is what's making the Ukraine war happen.
The reaction of Germany to this? To prepare for war, of course. Note: war, as in marching German soldiers into war. NOT defending Ukraine.
Like in any war I've ever seen, all actors in the Ukraine war have despicable behavior. They're not "equal" morally in any shape or form, but none of the actors are behaving morally, even judged by their own morals. Russia is by far the worst, then Germany, and Ukraine is mostly a victim (but that hasn't stopped them from making a few very questionable decisions either)
My problem with sanctions is the following. Russia, when push comes to shove, is trading oil with the EU because it economically benefits them. Why do they go to war? Frankly, to avoid these taxes. If you look deep down, that's the reason.
Let's assume sanctions aren't more than Russia can handle (as in, strong enough to bring the Russian state down), and EU sanctions aren't, then what do sanctions actually do?
They increase Russia's reasons to go to war with the EU while still allowing Russia's army to become stronger. Increasing both the ability and the appetite of the Kremlin to attack. Hence, why I'm saying the sanctions are effectively trying to get Russia to start a war with the EU.
And you're not telling me anyone who's good enough of a negotiator to get into parliament or government doesn't understand this DAMN well.
Germany is purposefully causing a war between the EU and Russia because
1) it doesn't require a budget item to be approved. It's cheap.
2) they don't look like that's what they're doing. Especially not to young Germans (who will be doing all the dying), in fact they look like they're doing something to end war and get to peace
And the worst of it is: Ukraine might actually save Germany's ass, and do the dying for them. That was never part of the plan, but they'll take it, of course (while STILL saving on the expense of supporting Ukraine, of course)
How is Russia's army becoming stronger? They have lost so much people and equipment. Why would they attack EU when they can't defeat Ukraine after so many years? Are you suggesting they will perform a suicide attack against EU, cause as much damage as they can, and get absolutely destroyed in return?
Russia is making a profit under EU sanctions with oil sales to the EU, especially to Greece and Spain. If they're not using that to become stronger they are complete morons.
Currently russian war is eating close to 50% of their federal budget. That's WW2 levels of militarism for nearly zero gain (current battlefield status, not 2022-2025) and huge manpower and infrastructure losses.
> Germany is purposefully causing a war between the EU and Russia because
No, Germany does what it does because it has no strong or even good leaders and failed to adapt to current circumstances. There is no purpose.
I can't even thank you enough. Just for speaking the truth about the complexity of it all.
Politicians are failing because majority can't even acknowledge the complexity. More worried about saving themselves then speaking candidly. There are a few that do, but sabotaged by the rest.
Please remind me quickly, who invaded who already? Germany what? Maybe in 1939, but definitely not in 2014. And there was no Ribbentrop-Molotov pact between Merkel and Putin, let's stop inventing things for the sake of an imaginary argument. So on short: Russia invaded the Ukraine because why not, the Eastern Europe and more is now on fire thanks to that, and I must read here funny numbers and how Russia doesn't like sanctions (duh, that's the whole point of sanctions).
You want to assign blame through an absolute moral standard? My God. The problem is that this is war. Nobody is behaving morally, in an absolute standard (frankly even outside of war that's the case). And I can't believe a rational person would actually say that:
"So on short: Russia invaded the Ukraine because why not, ..."
Believe it or not, Putin is a mass murderer. But even a mass murderer needs a good reason to spend 70%+ of a country's total income on destroying everything in sight for 8 years flat.
And as for guilt. "Why not" in your argument, includes France, US, UK and Germany vetoing any kind of serious reaction to Russia invading and annexing Crimea despite having signed agreements they would ... and then modifying those agreements afterward. You call that moral? Especially given that it's obviously exactly this that set off the rearmament spiral that the EU is now joining.
1) "suck up to Russia" (or let's put it politely: have a working economic relationship with Russia)
2) actually END THE WAR, as in honestly say to people that we're going to war, because that's exactly what EU sanctions are going to accomplish, and understand that this is what 10% or more of the economy will be dedicated to that for let's say a decade, and of course, missiles will be coming in for that time.
I would even go so far to say that it seems to me likely in the extreme that Germany, and by that I mean Schroeder and Merkel, promised Russia they would be allowed to conquer Ukraine (look at their UN votes after the Crimea annexation for example) ... and obviously they didn't deliver, and that, combined with Ukraine actually managing to save themselves against German wishes, is what's making the Ukraine war happen.
The reaction of Germany to this? To prepare for war, of course. Note: war, as in marching German soldiers into war. NOT defending Ukraine.
Like in any war I've ever seen, all actors in the Ukraine war have despicable behavior. They're not "equal" morally in any shape or form, but none of the actors are behaving morally, even judged by their own morals. Russia is by far the worst, then Germany, and Ukraine is mostly a victim (but that hasn't stopped them from making a few very questionable decisions either)
My problem with sanctions is the following. Russia, when push comes to shove, is trading oil with the EU because it economically benefits them. Why do they go to war? Frankly, to avoid these taxes. If you look deep down, that's the reason.
Let's assume sanctions aren't more than Russia can handle (as in, strong enough to bring the Russian state down), and EU sanctions aren't, then what do sanctions actually do?
They increase Russia's reasons to go to war with the EU while still allowing Russia's army to become stronger. Increasing both the ability and the appetite of the Kremlin to attack. Hence, why I'm saying the sanctions are effectively trying to get Russia to start a war with the EU.
And you're not telling me anyone who's good enough of a negotiator to get into parliament or government doesn't understand this DAMN well.
Germany is purposefully causing a war between the EU and Russia because
1) it doesn't require a budget item to be approved. It's cheap.
2) they don't look like that's what they're doing. Especially not to young Germans (who will be doing all the dying), in fact they look like they're doing something to end war and get to peace
And the worst of it is: Ukraine might actually save Germany's ass, and do the dying for them. That was never part of the plan, but they'll take it, of course (while STILL saving on the expense of supporting Ukraine, of course)