Latvia Def Min Blasts German Gov't On Russia Stance

Speaking to the FT, Lativan Defence Minister Artis Pabriks criticised the stance of the German gov't with relation to Russia and China, stating that Berlin has a “immoral and hypocritical” relationship with both nations.

• Pabriks (referring to Germany): "How are you acting yourself when it comes to Lithuania, Russia, China?...It’s immoral and hypocritical. It’s driving a division line between west and east in Europe....Germans forgot already that Americans were granting their security in the cold war. But they should [remember]. It’s their moral duty,”
• The differing stances taken by Western nations on how to respond to the escalation in tensions on the Ukrainian border continues to sow divisions within NATO and the EU, with hawkish nations (many former Warsaw Pact countries, the UK, the US) advocating harsh sanctions and seeking to supply Ukraine with defensive weaponry. However, some dovish countries (Germany, Austria, Italy) have cautioned against inflamming an already tense situation, relying on a diplomatic resolution.
• Germany remains under significant pressure from Russia-hawks to commit to the ending of the Nord Stream II gas pipeline certification programme should Russia invade Ukraine, but so far Berlin has refused to commit, instead seeking to treat the two issues separately.