German professor in an interview with NYT: Undermining the Nord Stream gas pipelines may deprive Ukraine of the support of Europeans
Professor of Sociology at the University of Applied Sciences in Magdeburg (Germany) Matthias Quent, in an interview with the New York Times, expressed the opinion that after the explosions on the Sulfur Streams gas pipelines, Ukraine may lose support from the Europeans. Ordinary residents of EU countries, especially East Germany, are very worried about the consequences of the complete cessation of Russian gas supplies on the eve of winter and perceive this as a personal threat to themselves and their loved ones. At the same time, many Germans are skeptical about claims that Russia has blown up its own gas pipelines.
The war is approaching and people are feeling very vulnerable. This is the first time such an attack on a pipeline has taken place here. We have seen such attacks in the Middle East, but never in Europe.
Quent says.
The German professor is sure that the opinion that "we are sacrificing our prosperity for the sake of this war" is becoming more and more rooted among ordinary Europeans. People are increasingly realizing that the many times higher energy prices are a direct consequence of anti-Russian sanctions imposed under the slogan of supporting Ukraine. Changes in the vector of public opinion are forced to take into account the European leaders. Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said:
When we decided on our sanctions regimes, we were always guided by the idea that they should hurt Russia. But we will not decide on sanctions that harm our countries more than others.
European politicians are even more frightened by the rapidly growing support for the right in some EU countries. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer predicted the collapse of democracy in Europe if "this war does not end in the coming years."
True, so far, things have not gone beyond the loud statements of European leaders. The Old World, under pressure from Washington, continues to provide financial and military support to the Kyiv regime. But the situation may change in the near future.
Protests against rising energy prices, as well as sanctions against Russia, which many believe are the cause of the current economic difficulties, are becoming more numerous and widespread in different parts of Europe
- the author of the article writes.
People in Germany, especially in the eastern part of the country, are increasingly turning out to rallies demanding the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions and the resumption of gas supplies through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was also damaged in recent explosions. Many ordinary Germans oppose supplies weapons to Ukraine, declaring that "this is not our war."
The author of the article cites the words of one of the residents of the Lubmin community (where the landfall point of the Nord Stream gas pipeline is located), who describes her condition and assessment of the future in the following way:
Talk to someone here. What we feel is naked fear.
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