| Russia has been a hostile actor to germany and the rest of the EU for more than a decade. Russia financially supports radical political movements with the sole intention to harm/destroy the EU. Russia has regularly ppl killed on european soil. Sometimes using chemical weapons that cause collateral damage. Russia has an extensive propaganda and disinformation network running in europe. Russia massively buys political influence by shopping for ex politicians, this way corrupting the political process. Russia has a history of military conflicts with its neighbours, see occupation of Trnsnrista in moldowa, abchasia and south ossetia in georgia, the annihilation of chechnia, all the stuff in ukraine and helping belarusian dictator Lukachenko suppressing his people. Looking at the levels of gas storage in europe by gazprom it is very obvious that its behaviour was not driven by good faith financial interests but as a weapon of the kremlin against europe. And lets not forget the shooting down of MH17 where, not only did the russians deny any responsibility, they even clogged the public discourse with disinformation campaigns of tons of ridiculous and contradictory theories. So, no it is not immensely in the interest of Germany to have good relations and continued trade with Russia as long as this regime is in power. Flood ukraine with heavy weapons till the russians are driven out. Then put up a new iron curtain till something substantial changes for the better. |