Germany Accuses Ukraine of Nord Stream Sabotage. So What!
At best a footnote in history. And schadenfreude!
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 closing nuclear power generation resources in Germany and partially the Russians doing a good job influencing German leaders.
This phenomenon isn’t new.
So, in a very real sense, Germany brought all of this on themselves. Germany was in a very unique position in 2008 when Russia invaded Georgia to make substantive demands of Moscow, but didn’t. Germany was in the same position in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine, but didn’t. 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, Germany!
Putin has infiltrated Germany at all levels. 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 it’s the loss of billions in pipeline investment and now billions of Euros in aid to Ukraine. (What would a forceful response to the Georgia invasion saved the German 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.
I find line of argument rather odd. So it's all Germany's fault, for having done business with Russia before the invasion? Therefore Germany should "apologize and keep quiet" when a multi-billion euro infrastructure installation of strategic importance is blown up by a country receiving billions of euros of German aid?
So, by the same token -- the U.S. has been doing business with Russia for decades too. We still use their space launch services -- just last week a Soyuz rocket was launched from Baikonur to resupply the astronauts stuck in the (mostly Russian-built) International Space Station because of the Boeing failure. So would you say that if Ukraine had shot down that supply rocket, that would be all our fault too?
You say that "no one in Ukraine cares" about Germany's concerns. Well, a lot of people in Germany care a lot. I bet people in Ukraine will care if Germany cuts off military aid to Ukraine. Oops, didn't they just do that?