Activists from Belgian-based Ukraine NGO Promote Ukraine demonstrated in front of the German Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels on Friday 22 April. The protestors demanded that the German government do more to support Ukraine and oppose Russia’s aggression against the nation.
Protestors, covered in fake blood, laid on the floor in front of the German diplomatic building and sang the EU anthem: “Ode to Joy.”
“It is time for Germany to make real economic sacrifices to defend European values and democracy in Ukraine,” the organisers wrote on Facebook.
The protestors, mostly from Brussel’s sizeable Ukrainian diaspora community, set out three clear demands to German officials. Increased economic sanctions, a ban on energy imports, and the shipment of heavy equipment to the Ukrainian army.
Germany has previously opposed a full ban on Russian oil and gas imports. Since the start of the war, the European Union has paid €35 billion to Russian energy companies, which activists say is funding its war against Ukraine. The activists criticise Germany for its soft stance on Russia’s aggression.
“The Russian war machine is currently financed by the EU and German money… It is unbelievable that while Germany as a country stands for democratic and European values, German leaders do not want to make any real economic sacrifices to defend those values,” Promote Ukraine said in a press release.
Hooked on Russian gas, reluctant to arm Ukraine
Germany has been slow to act on ending the purchase of Russian energy exports.
In an interview with the BBC on 21 April, Germany’s finance minister urged for patience on stopping fuel purchases, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describing Germany energy payments as “blood money.”
The German government had previously said that it was seeking to end the purchase of Russian oil by the end of the year, and gas shortly afterwards.
The Schultz government has dragged its feet in regard to weapons shipments for Ukraine.
Before the war, while most other major nations were sending significant arms shipments to Ukraine, the German government contributed 5,000 helmets to Ukrainian forces, which was perceived as a slight within Ukraine.
The German government eventually sent significant arms shipments to Ukraine, but the government was criticised for being slow to renew shipments.
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht was reported to have ignored an offer by Germany’s largest weapons producer, Rheinmetall, to provide the German government with €510 million of small arms which could be sent immediately to Ukraine.
Now, the German government is refusing to send heavy equipment, says Promote Ukraine.
“The German government is still shying away from sending heavy equipment, such as Leopard battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Cobra weapons location radars, and the armoured howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000,” the NGO specified.
Sending the wrong message
All this, the organisers say, sends the wrong message to both Ukraine and the European Union.
“German authorities have sent an inappropriate message to both Ukraine and Europe: Ukrainian democracy and European values are not worth being protected from Russian aggression.”
The NGO’s main appeal in front of the German embassy was for Germany to “be brave like Ukraine!” and help stop Putin’s imperialism.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has now raged on for over a month, forcing 5 million Ukrainians to flee abroad and killing at least 2,700 civilian casualties as of 15 April.
