On the Dechamberlainization of Europe
Back in April 2022, the British newspaper The Telegraph published a journalistic investigation revealing how the governments of France and Germany helped to arm and modernize the Russian army, bypassing the sanctions of the European Union, following the occupation of Crimea in 2014. We Ukrainians remember well how representatives of these countries were present in negotiating groups and constantly put pressure on Ukraine to accept Russia’s terrorist demands within the framework of the Minsk Agreements, to recognize Russian mercenaries and murderers who posed as separatists and representatives of the so-called people of Donbas and grant them broad autonomous rights. According to The Telegraph’s investigation, France and Germany supplied the Putin regime with weapons worth 273 million euros, including projectiles, missiles, guns, and bombs, after the Russian annexation of Crimea. At that time, ten EU countries supplied military equipment to Russia for 350 million euros, with Germany and France accounting for about 78% of this amount. It’s a stark reminder that nothing stays hidden for too long.
Listing the types of weapons provided to the Putin regime and recalling the „Steinmeier formulas“ prescribed for Ukraine under Russian dictation would be futile. The genuine concern for Ukrainians is whether the European backers of the Putin regime and Russian Nazism will face criminal responsibility for their actions against Ukraine and its people between 2014 and 2023.
The stance of several foreign governments started to shift gradually only after the mass murders and executions of Ukrainian civilians in various cities (Bucha, Hostomel, Irpin, Mariupol, and later Izium) captured the world’s attention. The heinous crimes committed by Russian soldiers sparked outrage in European societies, prompting many politicians and officials from EU countries to awaken from their decades-long slumber fueled by Gazprom’s money. Despite European societies‘ impressive solidarity with Ukrainians, these countries‘ political classes often appear to be living on a different planet.
Modern European chamberlainism is bound to fail as the crimes of Putin’s regime continue to mount. Anyone contributing to the regime’s strength and military buildup will be seen as a supporter or sympathizer. The global desire to oust Putin’s regime is rapidly gaining momentum, and it will inevitably spread to even the most loyal friends or naive supporters of the regime.
The recent open letter from a group of so-called German intellectuals, comprised mainly of former political figures past their prime, has been widely criticized. Their plea to the German government to force Ukraine to surrender in the ongoing war with Russia is „cut from the same cloth.“ Essentially, they argue that „Ukraine is doomed to lose anyway, so it might as well capitulate now,“ which is reminiscent of the same advice given to Poland in 1939 to surrender all its cities to the Nazis. Not surprisingly, the letter was signed by individuals with close ties to the Putin regime, including former Bundestag deputies, pro-Russian „Left“ party representatives, and a member of the „committee on values“ of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. In short, it was a group of well-connected individuals with a history of traveling to Russia on business trips.
Informnapalm’s Telegram channel recently shared insightful information about the „German intellectuals“ who wrote the controversial letter urging the German government to stop supporting Ukraine and press for surrender. According to the channel, the letter is not the work of genuine intellectuals but rather a result of the „active measures“ of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service based in Yasenevo. They suggest that the letter is a sign of desperation from the Kremlin as they try to consolidate their position by aligning their allies.
While it is true that such Telegram channels may have a different source base than scientific or academic publications, their function is to provide public awareness and nullify the political influence of specific individuals and groups. As for former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is now the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rosneft and the Chairman of the Shareholders‘ Committee of Nord Stream 2, there is little doubt as to where his loyalties lie.
I am referring to the fact that yesterday’s political elites are destined to disappear from the current political landscape. However, before they disappear, they must bear the shame of their criminal actions. They systematically condemned one nation to methodical extermination while contributing to the enrichment and arming of the aggressor state.
The ongoing brutal war in Ukraine, instigated by Putin’s criminal regime, is gradually exposing the collusion of many European politicians with Russian political and power circles. Some politicians may not even realize how they betray their long-standing connections with the Kremlin as they continue to espouse Kremlin narratives. More surprises are expected, and the actions of Russian special services agents will reveal themselves through odious statements in many parties and public associations in European countries. The politicians who were under the Kremlin’s sway are already becoming apparent; they are being controlled like puppets, parroting the Kremlin’s messages.
The process of deputinization and dechamberlainization of the EU has begun, and it is a continuous process that cannot be stopped. We can expect more changes to come, and it is important to remain vigilant and ready to adapt to the evolving political landscape.
Translated by Yulia Lyubka and Kate Tsurkan
