In relation to Angela Merkel to Russia there are a lot of personal: the Chancellor respect this country, its people, history and culture. However, she also understands that Vladimir Putin seeks to weaken Germany and the EU and divide them, according to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine. Therefore, the tension in relations between Moscow and Berlin is very upsetting Merkel and cause her “political pain”.
Angela Merkel’s affinity with Russia, but at the same time understands that Vladimir Putin “wants to weaken and divide Germany by any means”, writes the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine. According to the publication, recently, the Chancellor suddenly has clearly spoken on this issue in the Bundestag.
A few weeks ago in the German government is not the first time discussed cyber attacks on these deputies of the Parliament of the country, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls the author. According to the head of the German government, she had the impression that the hackers were not particularly selective and was grasping at any data that could get. She also expressed joy over the fact that the General Prosecutor’s office of Germany conducted a thorough investigation and eventually issued an international warrant for the arrest of a particular suspect, 29-year-old Dmitry Badin.
After that, Merkel described Putin’s policies as a whole, the article notes. The Chancellor stated that Russia “is a hybrid war,” distorting the facts and “desorientiert” cyberspace, and this happens consciously, within the framework of this strategy. According to her, it is very “unpleasant.” Merkel also recalled the murder in the Tiergarten and the subsequent expulsion of two Russian diplomats, but in the end said that Germany had prepared and other steps against Russia.
As emphasized by the publication, Merkel spoke with unusual for her openness and, among other things, made atypical for her confession: “I must say honestly I was extremely upset”. This feeling is the German Chancellor has described as “political pain”. On the one hand, every day she tries to improve relations with Russia, on the other hand, it turns out that there is evidence that “Russian forces” to take such unpleasant action. In this “climate of tension” have to work with.
While Merkel has hinted that she is faced with two Russias. One official, she negotiates and tries to improve relations, for which she actively advocates for many years. Another Russian hacking her e-mail, carries out cyber attacks, distorts reality, and disseminates propaganda in Germany. In addition, this “second” Russia increases the scale of the migration crisis, allowing Chechen refugees to enter Germany, and supports both left and right Rdikalov because these forces undermine democratic foundations.
The purpose of this is to weaken and divide Germany and the EU, says the German newspaper. And although Merkel does not turn to Russia a back, it changes nothing: all the years remains the same or gets worse, says the publication. Discreet “surge of anger” Merkel in the Bundestag she was required to at least once to give vent to his indignation, the author of the article.
However, in his opinion, in pain, was talking about Merkel, there is something personal. As reminds the edition, in school, Merkel studied Russian language and even went in 1970, Olympiad of Russian language in Moscow. In addition, she repeatedly said that her ties with Russia — about how when something is not quite legally went with friends hitchhiking in the Caucasus, about his love of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, the interest in Russian history. Portrait of Catherine the great, Germans on the Russian throne, stood for a long time on the desktop Merkel in the Chancellery. Chancellor knows about the crimes that Germany committed during the Second world war against Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other former Soviet republics, and therefore believes it is crucial to preserve the memory of this era. And Merkel would come to the celebrations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the great Patriotic war in Moscow, if not pandemic coronavirus, continues the German journalist.
“However, in the case of Merkel’s love for Russia is a love — hate relationship, as for every democratically thinking and feeling person who feels a closeness with this country, its culture and people,” — emphasizes the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
The assurances of the newspaper, Merkel was never fooled “democratic visibility,” formed around Putin in his first years in office of the Russian President. After the “annexation of Crimea”* it remained committed to the anti-Russian sanctions, although some EU countries showed less confidence in their necessity.
Merkel had previously said explicitly critical words addressed to Moscow, including meetings with Putin, the newspaper notes. Now in the German government deny that Russia’s strategy Merkel has been any changes. To curb ties with Russia Berlin is considered irresponsible, and still there guardedly respond to all illegal actions of the Russian side, says the German journalist.
In this situation, the representative of the SPD, Fritz offers Felgentreu accurately calculate all the losses that Moscow, in his opinion, caused the German Bundestag with their cyber attacks, and to show Russia the invoice showing how many millions Germany had to spend on new machinery and equipment. “If Moscow does not pay, should be followed by sanctions,” believes�� Felgentreu. However, in the circles of the security forces of Germany in this approach, see little good. If so let Russia, what damage it caused, next time its forces will be even better to know how to act.
To repay in the same coin Germany too, can not, emphasizes the publication. In the GRU, and this is just one of the many Russian special services, there are tens of thousands of employees — which, according to the estimates of German experts in this field, more than in all German security services combined. Probably hundreds of Russian hackers engaged in cyberattacks. Germany can not give equal response.
Berlin can’t stop the hybrid war in Moscow, writes the German newspaper. It can, however, right at her point-and to openly denounce Russia’s actions, calling criminals and customers, and it did so Angela Merkel speaking in the Bundestag. According to the publication, it is important for the lighting situation in the eyes of the German public. And let the sanctions for cyber attacks that the German government wants to harmonize in the EU, are more symbolic, Berlin and Brussels are not helpless, concludes the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
* Crimea became part of Russia after it was voted the overwhelming majority of the residents by referendum on March 16, 2014 (approx. Inotv).
