7/8 The Minister President of Saxony and Deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) says Germany's basis of prosperity will collapse without gas from Russia. He's calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations with Putin.
7/8 Despite much remarked upon (incl by myself) "Zeitenwende" Olaf Scholz pronounced himself, ironically the strategy, as far as it exists, is to hope that things blow over sooner rather than later and some modicum of a "return to normal" can follow. Despite rhetoric to the contrary.
7/8 The veteran Russian diplomat, sitting between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the meeting, also accused the west of pressing Ukraine to “use its weapons” in the fighting. He walked out when the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, started to speak.
7/9 There is widespread misunderstanding of energys role in the economy. Energy flows build, maintain, and give adaptive capacity to all organisation in nature-incl econ. Monetary value does not= its existential role. Energy-economy models based on past correlations r dangerous junk.
7/9 It is fashionable to predict the end of #Germany's economic model these days, which is supposedly "built on cheap Russian energy". As if an industrial gas bill that rises from 10 to 20 billion euros will upend a 3.5 trillion economy. Yes, there are real risks this year. /1
7/6 🇩🇪German media goup @RTL_com has actually conducted a poll "Should 🇺🇦Ukraine cede territories to 🇷🇺Russia for peace?". Polling Germans, not Ukrainians. It's honestly beyond disgraceful. I'm trying really hard to contain a bitter joke about Sudetenland.
7/6 How language changes … “East Reich women set world record” The last time a US newspaper used the term “Reich” for “Germany” – 27 years after Hitler’s Reich had collapsed. Minneapolis Tribune, July 6, 1972, pg. 33
7/5 Montenegrin media report on draft agreement whereby EU offers Montenegro, Serbia, N. Macedonia & Albania a credible membership path while Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia & Kosovo would be limited to the (non-exinsistant) “European Political Community”. vijesti.me/kolumne/611821…/
7/5 It really is worth checking out this EU Q&A on EU road transport sanctions on Russia to look at what Brussels has been clearly saying on record on Kaliningrad despite complaints from Berlin elsewhere. It's black and white. June 8 updated. ec.europa.eu/info/sites/def… -1-
Europeans shouldn't take America's protection for granted just because Trump is no longer in office. The United States is one or maybe two bad elections removed from going down a very dark path so relying on it to the extent that we do is a big risk.
7/5 /No, we don't. Before Russian war on Ukraine it was disputable, but after... Just imagine we are attacked - and have to rely on some German Bundeskanzler or French President (aka "save the face of the aggressor"). We will be wiped out within hours. G-d save Nato./
7/4 Moscow is counting on voters to lose interest in Ukraine. It's a moment that requires leadership. If Western politicians fail to convince their electorates that the cost of helping Ukraine is worth bearing, Kyiv will be in serious trouble.
7/4 There's been a lot said about @TimothyDSnyder's devastating takedown of Jurgen #Habermas perspective on #Ukraine & #Russia which is, sadly, representative of a major strand of discourse in #Germany that also impacts 🇩🇪policy & positioning. I want to highlight a few things 🧵