Former boxing heavyweight champion-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko pulled no punches in a devastating critique of perceived German appeasement of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, as he questioned which side the German government is actually on.
Writing for Germany’s largest-selling tabloid, Bild, the mayor of Kiev claimed that Putin sympathizers now occupied key positions within Germany and wielded considerable influence over the country’s foreign policy.
“I lived in Germany for a long time and I still have many friends there,” Klitschko wrote. “That is why it pains me particularly to see how Putin sympathizers have seized political control on many issues.
“The billions that Russia has invested to buy German corporations, ex-politicians and lobbyists have paid off for Vladimir Putin,” he claimed.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion lamented the decision of Germany’s federal government to effectively prioritize Nord Stream 2 over protecting the sovereignty of European nations, and expressed the huge disappointment across Ukraine at Germany’s refusal to supply them with defense weapons whilst at the same time preventing nations like Estonia from supplying weapons.
“This is failure to provide assistance and betrayal of friends in a dramatic situation in which our country is threatened by Russian troops from several borders,” Klitschko wrote.
“Many are asking: where does the German government actually stand? On the side of freedom and Ukraine? Or at the side of the aggressor?
“Clear signals are now needed from the most important country in Europe,” he added.
Kay-Achim Schönbach, the commander of the German navy, resigned from his post over the weekend following controversial statements made about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Russia in which he appeared to praise Putin.
“Unfortunately, the incomprehensible statements made by the German vice admiral about Russia and Putin show that other representatives in important positions are also suffering from a complete loss of reality when it comes to Russia,” Klitschko wrote in response.
On the impending threat from Russia, the mayor of Kiev insisted that Ukraine wants just one thing, “to be an independent, democratic and free country!
“We will continue to fight for this. We will not attack anyone, but we will defend our country!”
