According to a report, president Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected on Sunday for a five year term in a post that cuts across party lines. Reportedly, the chancellor is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to reduce tensions.
According to the report, the German government have refused to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. Reportedly, Germany’s reluctant position is partly rooted in its history during the 20th Century when the country’s militarization in Europe during two wars led many post war German leaders to view any military response as a last resort.
According to the report, the chancellor has not explicitly said what consequences or sanctions Russia would face if it invades Ukraine. Reportedly, the future of the Nord stream 2 pipeline that seeks to bring gas to Germany, bypassing Ukraine is at stake, and could cause supply problems to Germany. According to the report, the u.s. president threatened that the pipeline would be blocked in the case of an invasion.